Keith Womer, harpsichord and organ

Keith Womer serves as the Artistic Director for La Follia Austin Baroque, and as the organist at First Presbyterian Church. Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, he studied organ with Raymond Ocock of Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, and harpsichord with Will Volcker in Houston, Texas. In competition, he has twice won the National Federation of Music Clubs Award and the Sigma Alpha Iota Award. In 1974, he was chosen Young Organist of the Year by Keyboard Arts, Inc. His many recitals include performances on such historic instruments as the Walcker Organ in Methuen, Massachusetts, and the organ in Atlantic City Convention Hall. He has appeared as soloist with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra and as featured artist in the Houston Harpsichord Society's annual Presentation Concert.

Keith is not only a brilliant soloist, he is a consummate continuo player, a skill that is rare and wonderful. He currently performs on 3 different harpsichords and one chamber organ. His single manual Italian harpsichord was built by Joop Klinkhamer of Amsterdam in 2001. It is modeled after Italian harpsichords built around 1750 and features an exceptionally clear, singing tone. He also has two harpsichords built in the Franco-Flemish tradition, both by William Dowd of Boston in the 1970’s with soundboard painting by Sheridan Germann. The first features a bright, sparkling sound in the so-called petit ravelment tradition of French building. The second instrument is a larger French instrument modeled after a 1733 harpsichord by Blanchet similar to one in Francois Couperin’s possession. His chamber organ was built in 1999 by Glenn Guitarri and Jon Bennett. All of the pipes are wood with ranks at 8’, 4’, and 2’. The warm sound is ideal for basso continuo and occasional solo work.