Gerald Near, one of the finest composers of church music writing today, first studied theory and composition with Leslie Bassett; organ with Robert Glasgow; and conducting with Elizabeth Green. He later returned for graduate study in orchestral conducting with Dominick Argento and conducting with Thomas Lancaster at the University of Minnesota. In 1982 Near was one of the first recipients of a McKnight Foundation Fellowship. That year also saw the performance of two commissioned works for the AGO National Convention in Washington, DC. The following year he moved to Dallas, where he was appointed organist/choirmaster, and subsequently, Canon Precentor of St. Matthew's Cathedral. In 1989, Gloriae Dei Cantores commissioned Mr. Near to compose a work for the choir, Resurrexi, based on Gregorian chant motifs, which the choir premiered and has sung in concerts and later recorded. His organ concerto was premiered by Mary Preston at the 1998 Denver American Guild of Organists National Convention. He is Director of Aureole Editions and presently resides in New Mexico.
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