Special Events

Be sure to go to www.thehideawayonline.org for more information on our Rock and Roll venue at the Church.

April 6, 2008 4pm - Kenneth and Evelyn Hales Memorial Organ Concert

Joshua Stafford

Joshua Stafford is a second year student of Alan Morrison at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music where he studies on a full-tuition scholarship. A native of Jamestown, NY, he began piano studies at the age of six. His interest in the organ was sparked at a Pipe Organ Excursion held by the Chautauqua AGO that he attended at the age of ten.

For several years thereafter, Joshua was mentored by R. Richard Corbin, serving as his assistant at St. Luke’s Church in Jamestown. In December 2005 he assumed full responsibilities of Organist and Choirmaster at St. Luke’s following the illness and passing of his friend and mentor.

Joshua has won numerous awards and prizes including First Prize in the 2006 Westminster Choir College Organ Competition, First Prize in the 2007 Philadelphia AGO Competition for Young Organists, and Second Prize in the 2006 AGO/Quimby Regional Competition for Young Organists. He has performed recitals across the country, including postlude concerts for the Philadelphia Orchestra on the country’s largest new concert hall organ at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center.

He is also a regular performer on the world’s largest outdoor organ, the Massey Memorial Organ at Chautauqua Institution, and the world’s largest organ, the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ at Macy’s in Philadelphia.

In May 2007, Joshua traveled with the Curtis organ department to Paris, where he had the rare opportunity to play many of the city’s beautiful and historic organs, including an evening at the famous organ of Notre Dame Cathedral. Joshua was recently appointed Organ Scholar at the historic Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge, PA.