Jan Kraybill: Press/Reviews

The concert was thrilling, thanks to a master artist and interpreter of this magnificent instrument!

Thanks so much for all that you do for AGO, organists, and the profession!  I knew that you were very active in the guild, but received a much fuller understanding of your tremendous work at the Des Moines convention.  Your enthusiasm and joy are contagious, and are certainly reflected in your demeanor with others as well as in your playing!  Your concert at St. Paul’s was truly a highlight of the convention—musically and excitingly performed, and your commentary about the music and the concert drew the audience even closer to you and to the wonderful music being heard!

Congratulations again to you too for your terrific concert.  It was a very different program for you, but also a big winner!  I really appreciate the dialogue you provide between pieces; too many artists don’t do that anymore, and it’s a great bonus to hear what you have to say on a personal note about the pieces.

I not only love hearing you play, but it's always so nice to talk with you, too. Your concert was really great and I wanted to thank you again for playing the encore for a few of us afterwards (I'm so sorry someone made you do that after an amazing concert and reception!!). Your energy and musicianship is inspiring.

And that was certainly a magnificient recital in Des Moines!  And the thread to link it to events in Des Moines past was really neat.  A wonderful presentation!  Congratulations!

Congratulations on your performance tonight, Jan!!! You are such a gift to us all :)

Jan is an entertaining speaker and a wonderful artist.

This is the third time I have heard Jan play and she just gets better and better.  It was obvious she had put a lot of thought and research into finding interesting music.

The most exciting recital I have heard in years!   Unique program and interestingly presented.

An excellent program in all aspects.  Interesting repertoire, excellent skill, informative and friendly commentary useful to all in attendance, visibility with the monitors was excellent.  Among the finest of recitals I've ever attended at an AGO convention (and I've been to a dozen of them).

One of the best events of the whole week. Jan is so personable and a true cheerleader for the pipe organ and AGO.

I found her comments very helpful in my listening. 

Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous! Such research!!! And you make it all look EASY when we know in fact it is the result of dedication, discipline, long hours of hard work, and an incredible gift for learning and performing great music.

Very carefully planned and well executed program.  The concept of using the various anniversaries was timely and interesting.  Her comments added a lot to the program, especially for the non-organists.

Her exuberance and energy were palpable.  And she played wonderfully, as well!

I never cease to marvel at Jan's playing AND programming -- what an interesting choice of repertoire, all played SO well.

Your concert was another memorable experience for all of us.  You played the dickens out of the organ!  When the camera focused on you, there was either deep intensity of focus or a big grin for us to enjoy, for you were having such fun playing.  Thank you for causing us to revel in the music ... we experienced great pride, admiration and thanksgiving for being a part of your audience.  You were stellar.

You were the best athlete I saw all day . . . and I watched virtually every minute of the Superbowl!!!

Bravo!  It was just the most amazing concert.  My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Many thanks for the invitation.  We will look forward to attending another concert in the future – especially when you play at the Kauffman Center!

You played a really wonderful recital – your technique and interpretation were energizing and we the listeners were engaged from beginning to end, in each piece. You clearly have a fan club, and I am a member, too!

She is one of the outstanding musicians in the entire region.  She impressed us all when last year she passed the highest level of performance certification from the American Guild of Organists, with her Fellowship Certification.  Her programs are fabulous.

I really wanted to thank u for an Incredibly inspiring an impactful evening. It was one thing to be blown away by such a wonderful place but the performance was even  more amazing. U helped bring back the feeling of Xmas in my heart:). For that I am grateful. Also a big thanks for the private tour. That was the coolest experience. Your passion for what u do was contagious!

As if being enveloped in that magnificent space, singing and enjoying the company of everyone occupying our half of the pew wasn’t gift enough, a tour inside the organ and getting to request my own private Bach?!  I wasn’t kidding when I said it was more than an OMG moment. 

I just want to thank you for your beautiful Handel concerto with the KC orchestra. It was so beautiful and as usual, you just make the music "come to life"!!   You always bring excitement to whatever you play and make it come alive!! 

I brought my neighbor, who likes to come with me to hear you and has also become a "Jan fan"!!    She says to tell you how much she enjoyed your music and she agrees with me about how you add such a personal touch to all your music.

It sounded like it must have been technically very challenging - I can only imagine.

Thank you so much, Jan, for your concert on Sunday at the Cathedral.  I enjoyed absolutely everything and left so inspired in having heard a fabulous program, a beautiful organ, and an organist second to none.  As I said before, you do not have to take second place to anyone I heard in Washington.  This was one of the best concerts I have ever heard with new music (to me) that want to hear again.  You are an inspiration!