Fernando Germani, born on April 5, 1906 in Rome, Italy, was an organist and composer. He began his musical education at the Accademia Santa Cecilia de Rome at age eight. By 1921, Germani started his career as a virtuoso performer, named organist of the orchestra at the Augusteo. He gave his first U.S. recital at age 21 and directed the organ studies department at the Curtis Institute of Philadelphia from 1931 to 1933. Germani returned to Rome to teach at Accademia Santa Cecilia until 1976. His notable achievements include performing the first complete cycle of J.S. Bach's organ works in Italy in 1945 and serving as principal organist at St. Peter's Basilica from 1948 to 1959. Germani received the Special Prize for Culture from the Italian government in 1997. He passed away on June 10, 1998.
