Alexander Russell (organ impresario)

Alexander Russell
George Alexander Russell
Born	October 2, 1880 Franklin, Tennessee
Died	1953 New York City
Known for	organ impresario, educator and organist

Alexander Russell (1880–1953) was an American composer, organist and the first Frick Professor of Music for Princeton University. He is most remembered today as the long time organ impresario for the Wanamaker Department Stores.

George Alexander Russell, Jr., was born on October 2, 1880 in Franklin, Tennessee son of a Presbyterian minister. He received his first musical instruction at age 10, from his mother who was an accomplished musician.

He was enrolled at Syracuse University at age 16 and graduated with highest honors in 1901. His teachers included organ, George A. Parker, piano, Adolf Frey, and composition William Berwald. Russell was subsequently appointed to the faculty at Syracuse and for the next four years he was professor of piano and organ as well as assuming the position of organist at several local churches. During this time he made the acquaintance of young organ virtuoso Charles M. Courboin, whose career he would eventually manage and with whom he was to stage many organ concerts at the Wanamaker stores beginning with the rededication concert of the Philadelphia organ in 1919.

In 1906 he went to Europe to study in Berlin and Paris. He first studied piano with Leopold Godowsky with whom he acquired expert technique and interpretation. He then went on to Harold Bauer. Russell also studied organ, composition, orchestration and fugue with Charles Marie Widor and composition with Edgar Stillman Kelley, an American then resident abroad. It was under Kelly that Russell conceived the ambition to become a serious composer.

In 1908 Russell made his concert pianist debut with marked success. Returning to America that fall, he toured the country as a pianist, both by himself and as a joint recitalist with other artists including tenor Reinald Werrenrath, soprano Florence Hinkle and future colleague at Princeton University John Barnes Wells.