Brenda Portman

Brenda Portman is the Resident Organist at Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, Executive Director of the church’s renowned Organ Concert Series, and Adjunct Organ Instructor at Xavier University.  She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree (2016) in organ performance from the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music, where she received a full scholarship as first prize winner of the Strader Organ Competition and served as teaching assistant for the organ department.  She also has music degrees from Northwestern University (2003) and Wheaton College (2002).

Dr. Portman has received numerous awards in organ competitions, including the Albert Schweitzer, Arthur Poister, Rodgers, and Sursa American Organ Competition.  In October 2014 she was the only American woman to compete in the Canadian International Organ Competition in Montréal.  Her performance there led to a collaboration with acclaimed Canadian composer Rachel Laurin and a recording on the 88-rank Casavant organ of her home church in Cincinnati: "Pilgrimages: Organ Music of Rachel Laurin Inspired by Sacred Themes," which was released in April 2016 on the Raven label (including a duet performed with the composer).  A composer herself, Dr. Portman’s Elegy for organ solo won the Twin Cities AGO Composition Competition in 2016.

Brenda Portman is represented by Concert Artist Cooperative.  For more information, visit brendaportman.com.