The Duruflé Academy, from its inception, was intended to make broad musical knowledge more accessible. With all of the modern tools the internet has to offer, it has never been easier to facilitate this sharing of knowledge, and in our Discord server, we have a wealth of resources including field-leading experts. The environment in the Discord server is comfortably casual, and discussions cover a wide range of topics.
We also host various occasional online events such as masterclasses, lectures, and recitals, which are free to members of the Discord server. Members can chat with students and professionals from around the world. Access to resources such as these are unprecedented in music schools around the world, and represent the very best of what the internet can offer to musicians.
If you are interested in joining us, contact us, and if we feel that the server would fit you well, we would be happy to guide you in joining.
When you contact us, if you are UNDER the age of 13 years old, you will not gain entry to the server due to discord’s TOS.
To join the Main Discord Server via discord itself, if it is more convenient than using the contact us page, use this link to join the “Durufle Academy Waiting Room” server, where you can verify yourself there:
Featured Faculty
In addition to the faculty of the Academy listed at Our Faculty, we have a growing number of faculty and experts from institutions worldwide who are volunteering their time for the benefit of members of the Discord server. These include:
Dr. Timothy Olsen
Professor of Organ at UNCSA and Salem College
Dr. Olsen is regarded as one of the leading organ and harpsichord pedagogues in America today, teaching a joint studio of high school, undergraduate, and graduate students as well as being an active performer and church musician, as a choir director, organist, and harpsichordist.
Raymond Hawkins
International Organ Recitalist
Raymond is an active organ and piano performer, whose performances are praised for being “superbly played and registered.” Raymond currently serves as Director of Music and Organist at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Craig Williams
Organist at West Point Cadet Chapel, Professor of Organ at Nyack College
Mr. Williams holds one of the most prestigious organist positions in the country: that of West Point Military Academy, home to the largest church/chapel organ in the world. Williams has studied at Westminster Choir College, Julliard, and others, and is highly regarded for his performances of American, as well as modern French music.
Dr. Thomas Swenson
Professor of Keyboard at UNCSA
Dr. Thomas Swenson holds degrees from Minnesota State University (BM, Piano Performance), the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (MM, Piano Performance), and the University of Oklahoma (PhD, Piano Pedagogy). He teaches various musical fundamentals classes at UNCSA, and is well-regarded for his flexible teaching styles.
David Durkop
Professional Composer, Organist, Conductor
Mr. Durkop is one of the most highly regarded choral and organ composers in North Carolina. He is also an accomplished conductor, having conducted, among others, the Pittsburgh Symphony. As an organist, he has been praised for his energetic and uplifting performances, and has held organist positions all across the east coast.
Maurice Duruflé Academy of Music 