 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Robert Fazakerly
Robert Fazakerly is Acting Music Director and Organist/Pianist at First Church. Bob has been a member of the professional music staff since 1981 when he was appointed Organist. He has been privileged to collaborate musically with Thomas Benjamin, Dean Dalton, and Jason Oby and has bridged the ministries of the Revs. Webster Kitchell, Robert L. Schaibly, Bruce Bode, Gail Lindsay Marriner, and José Ballester.
Bob’s musical education began in Los Angeles where he won several important prizes as a young musician. From the age of eleven he was repeatedly selected to play in the Bach Festival recitals held annually at the University of Southern California. At seventeen he was a prize winner in the San Fernando Valley Symphony Association Competition and was admitted to the California Young Artist Guild, which sponsored him in recitals across the state. He was accepted to USC as a piano major and studied piano with David Berfield and John Crown and theory-composition with Morten Lauridsen. His piano studies continued at the University of Houston under Albert Hirsh and Abbey Simon and he completed his formal studies with a Master’s Degree at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music where he majored in organ performance under the direction of Clyde Holloway and studied theory-composition with Paul Cooper. In 1983 Bob won the Perkins Prize, the highest award given by the Shepherd School for outstanding scholarship and performance. Since joining the music staff at First Church, Bob has participated in many notable musical performances and has become a highly regarded accompanist.
In 1990 Dean Dalton, former Music Director of First Church, and Bob launched the Channing Concerts recital series. The series has featured many fine chamber music and solo recital performances by artists from all over the world. The series’ mission is to present the best in chamber music to Houston audiences free of charge.
Bob received a special honor upon the occasion of his 25th anniversary at First Church. Mayor Bill White proclaimed March 12, 2006 “Bob Fazakerly Day” in the City of Houston, recognizing Bob’s many years of service to the church, the arts, the community, and to his students.
Bob and his wife Coreen have three sons, Michael, Bryce, and Bryan. Bryan is an accomplished pianist often heard around church.