Bio

Organist, composer, and choral conductor, Alvez Barkoskie IV is a native of St. Augustine, Florida. In 2021 he completed his Doctor of Musical Arts in organ performance at the University of Oklahoma. He also holds Master of Music degrees in organ performance (University of Oklahoma, 2014) and composition (University of Texas – Austin, 2012), and a Bachelor of Music in organ performance and composition (Stetson University, DeLand, Florida, 2009).  He has studied organ with John Schwandt, Damin Spritzer, Gerre and Judith Hancock, and Boyd Jones. His composition studies were with Marvin Lamb, Yevgeniy Sharlat, Dan Welcher, Donald Grantham, Sydney Hodkinson and Manuel de Murga.

Barkoskie has performed on the organ both home and abroad in such venues as St. Mark in Venice, St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Rome, Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin, St. Columb’s Cathedral in Derry, Peterskirche in Vienna; Central Synagogue in New York City; Our Lady of Angels Cathedral in Los Angeles, and Jacoby Symphony Hall in Jacksonville, Florida.

Barkoskie was a recipient of the 2014 E. Power Biggs fellowship to attend the Organ Historical Society Convention in Syracuse and that same year he won the hymn composition contest celebrating the 300th anniversary of Bruton Parish in Colonial Williamsburg. His compositions have been featured on the nationally-syndicated programs “Pipedreams,” hosted by Michael Barone and “With Heart and Voice,” hosted by Peter DuBois as well as on the podcast “Moveable Do,” hosted by Steve Danielson. His works have been performed internationally including in the United States, Czech Republic, Austria, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, the Philippines, and United Kingdom. His choral pieces are published through Santa Barbara Music Publishing, E.C. Schirmer Company, Galaxy Music Corporation, Alliance Music Publications, GIA and OCP.

Barkoskie is currently the full-time organist and Director of Sacred Music at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Oklahoma City where he has served since September 2015, and the School Mass Choir Director at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Midwest City, where he has served since September 2022.