John-Paul Buzard

Founder and Artistic Director

JohnPaul@BuzardOrgans.com

John-Paul Buzard is founder and artistic director of Buzard Pipe Organ Builders, based in Champaign, Illinois. He began his career in organbuilding by working as an apprentice organ technician in high school and college. He was appointed Curator of Organs for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign following graduate school, and began to lay the groundwork for his company through organ-building and restoration projects in the Champaign area. Realizing a life-long dream, he founded the Buzard organ company in 1985.

Mr. Buzard continues as Curator of Organs for the University of Illinois, and also serves as Curator of Organs for MacMurray College, Illinois College, Indiana University, and DePauw University. He earned a Master’s degree in organ and church music from Northwestern University, studying organ with Richard Enright and Wolfgang Rubsam, and also spent two years in the organ performance program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, studying organ with Jerald Hamilton.

In addition, Mr. Buzard is a certified Master Organbuilder with the American Institute of Organbuilders (AIO), a member of the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America (APOBA), and a member of the Worshipful Company of Musicians of the City of London.