W. Dudley Oakes

Organist, Dr. Dudley Oakes is a church musician, performer, teacher, and organ consultant. Oakes is also a member of the faculty of Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia where he has taught theory and organ since 2001. Oakes has served many churches in the DC area including ten years as organist and choirmaster at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Georgetown Parish. He has been busy nationally in the organ building industry since 1987.

An active recitalist and conductor, recent performing activities have included a collaboration with The Washington Bach Consort, solo recitals at Washington National Cathedral and St. Thomas Church, New York City, and a Messiah performance of “unusual distinction” (portfolio, Norfolk, Virginia). Recital appearances, recordings, and broadcasts in the United States, Canada, Australia, England, France and Germany have repeatedly brought him critical acclaim for his “virtuosity, technical brilliance, musical interpretation and artistry”.

Dr. Oakes was in Russia twice in 2009 presenting a paper on organ construction and design including tonal trends post neo-baroque to the Gnessens International Organ Conference in Moscow and later that year performing a solo organ recital in the Sochi International Organ Festival. Recent tours took him to St. Peters in Vatican City and France, performing in five cathedrals and churches in summer festivals to large and appreciative audiences. Oakes is a seasoned performer who champions French and German romantic repertoire.