Yon, Pietro Alessandro 08/08/1886 - 11/22/1943

Yon studied at the conservatoires of Milan (with Polibio Fumagalli) and Turin and completed his training at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome. Here he studied organ with Remigio Renzi and piano with Giovanni Sgambati. Starting from 1905 he was organist in the Vatican. In 1907 he followed his older brother Constantino to New York, who was organist at the St. Vincent Ferrer Church there.


Until 1926 he was organist at the St. Francis Xavier Church. During this time his most important compositions developed, consisting of Natalie in Sicilia (1912), the Christmas hymn Gesu Bambino (Baby Jesus, 1917) and Humoresque “L'organo primitivo” – Toccatina for Flutes (1918). In 1921 he became an American citizen. In the same year he was appointed honorary organist at the St. Peter's Basilica. From 1927 to his death Yon worked as organist at the St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, USA.


He is considered one of the most important catholic church musicians of the USA in the first half the 20th century.


Along with that Yon was an important concert organist and sought after organ teacher. Among his pupils ranked, et al. the composer Paul Creston.