“Absolutely thrilling recital…elegance, and exuberant joy…energetic performance…rewarding a fabulous performance with shouts of ‘Brava’ and enthusiastic applause.” – American Guild of Organist.
Organist Ahreum Han’s passionate, powerful, and extraordinary performances have delighted audiences across the United States, Asia, and Europe. She has appeared as a featuring artist at the International Organ Festival in Arbon, Switzerland, Jack Singer Hall (Calgary, Canada), Michealskirche (Leipzig, Germany), Oxford Town Hall (Oxford, United Kingdom), Nottingham Albert Concert Hall (Nottingham, UK), and Esplanade Hall in Singapore.
Ahreum has been invited to perform at several American Guild of Organist national and regional conventions (Atlanta ’07, Sarasota ’10, Nashville ’12, New Haven ’15, Cedar Rapids ’17, OrganFest ’21, and Tulsa’ 23). Additionally, she has performed at the Young Virtuosi Festival held at Wesleyan University, Connecticut, Colorado State University, and the White Mountain Musical Arts Bach Festival in New Hampshire. Her solo recital s have graced major venues including the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall (Philadelphia, PA), Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park (San Diego, CA), Ocean Grove Auditorium (Ocean Grove, NJ), Merrill Auditorium (Portland, ME), Princeton University Chapel (Princeton, NJ), Memorial Chapel at Harvard University (Boston, MA), Edythe Bates Old Recital Hall at Rice University (Houston, TX), St. Thomas Church, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, St. Bartholomew’s Church, and Trinity Church, Wall Street (NYC); St. Philip’s Cathedral (Atlanta, GA), Broadway Baptist Church (Fort Worth, TX), and the First Church of Christ, Scientist (Boston, MA). She has appeared as organ soloist with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra at Verizon Hall and the University of Pennsylvania Orchestra at Irvine Auditorium.
Ahreum has earned top prizes from numerous competitions, including the Oundle Award in United Kingdom, undergraduate division of Westminster Choir College Scholarship Competition, the Charlotte Hoyt Bagnall Scholarship Competition, the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) National Young Artist Performance Competition, the John Rodland Memorial Church Music Scholarship Competition, the Albert Schweitzer organ competition, the Carlean Neihart Organ Competition, and the Edwin Seder prize at Yale Institute of Sacred Music. Her live performances have been featured on PIPEDREAMS, a radio show from American Public Media. She is also in demand as adjudicator for music competitions, including Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition and the AGO/Regional Competitions for Young Organists.
Born in Seoul, Korea, Ahreum immigrated with her family to Atlanta, Georgia, at the age sixteen. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in organ performance from Westminster Choir College, a Diploma from prestigious Curtis Institute of Music, a Master’s degree from Yale School of Music and Yale Institute of Sacred Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from University of Iowa. Her teachers include Ed Dunbar, Ken Cowan, Alan Morrison, Thomas Murray, and Brett Wolgast.
Since January 2018, Ahreum has been the Director of Music and Organist at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth, Texas. She has previously been on the organ faculty at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, and served as the College Organist at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Her past roles include Principal Organist and Artist-in-Residence at First Presbyterian Church in Davenport, Iowa; Principal Organist at First Presbyterian Church in West Chester, Pennsylvania; Organist at Marquand Chapel of Yale Divinity School and the Berkeley Divinity School of Yale University, and Organist at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Stamford, Connecticut.
Ahreum is married to Todd Congdon and they have two boys: a 9-year-old, Daniel and a 8- year-old, Bradley.