Mary Lee Talbot
Staff Writer
When Gary Reeve and Ruth Becker realized that the 2024 Chautauqua season marked Josh Stafford’s fifth anniversary as director of sacred music and the Jared Jacobsen Chair for the Organist, they asked Stafford how he would like to commemorate the occasion. He said, “Oh, that is not necessary.”
So, as members of the Motet and Chautauqua Choirs, Reeve and Becker swung into action. With a little sleuthing, they found out Stafford’s favorite scripture passage — John 1:1–14. Next, Reeve and Becker solicited the funds from the choirs and others. Then, they did a little more homework and discovered that one of Stafford’s favorite composers is David Hurd, former professor of Sacred Music and director of chapel music at the General Theological Seminary, Chelsea, New York City, for 39 years.
The premiere performance of “In the Beginning,” as the offertory anthem, will take place during the 10:45 a.m. Sunday morning worship service in the Amphitheater. The commission is “in recognition of his significant contribution to Chautauqua Institution’s worship and in honor of five years as the Institution’s Organist and Choir Director.” Composer Hurd will be in attendance for the premiere.
The choirs have commissioned other choral pieces over the years, including ones for Jack Grigsby, former Chautauqua choir director; Ross Mackenzie, former director of the Department of Religion at Chautauqua; and several for Jacobsen over his tenure as organist and director of sacred music.
“One of the unusual things Jared did before he died was allow Josh to play ‘Largo’ on the Massey Memorial Organ. I don’t remember Jared allowing another organist to do that during his tenure,” Reeve said. “Josh just stepped in seamlessly, almost like he was hand-picked by Jared.”
“Josh had big shoes to fill Becker said, It was providential and serendipitous that Jared had mentored and provided Josh with opportunities to be a part of us before he became a part of us. And Josh easily and quickly proved he is more than up to the job!”
She continued: “I don’t think these last six years could have unfolded any more perfectly. Chautauqua is an extremely unique niche in this crazy world. We are uniquely blessed to be able to create sacred statements through music with Josh leading the way. He is well-deserving of an expression of our love, our respect, for his expertise and his leadership of the choral and organ work during the summer seasons at Chautauqua.”
Hurd is one of the world’s most visible and successful classical organists who is African American. His Intercession Mass setting is used by many congregations across the United States. With over 100 choral and organ works in print, his compositions have appeared in numerous recordings in both the United States and England. Hurd is regularly sought out by congregations and organizations seeking to commission new anthems and organ works. Hurd’s sacred compositions can be found in many hymnals, including the Episcopal Hymnal, 1982. He is presently the director of music at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Times Square, New York City.
An internationally renowned and award-winning organist and native of neighboring Jamestown, Stafford succeeded the late Jacobsen, his mentor and teacher, as the principal performer on the historic Massey Memorial Organ.
In 2016, his meticulous technique, innate yet highly mature musicality and constant musical engagement compelled the jury of the Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition to name him, out of 12 stellar competitors, the Pierre S. du Pont First Prize Winner, earning him a cash award of $40,000.
While growing up in Jamestown, Stafford began piano studies at the age of 6; his interest in the organ was sparked at a Pipe Organ Excursion held by the Chautauqua chapter of AGO he attended as a 10 year old. Jacobsen, Chautauqua’s longtime organist and coordinator of worship and sacred music, became one of several mentors and instructors who guided Stafford’s development as an organist.
“In so many ways, Chautauqua is my artistic and religious home, so I am deeply humbled to be able to serve and give back to a community that has given me so much,” Stafford said.
