Muriel Stafford

Muriel Emily Stafford (born Gidley ; born April 1, 1906 in Adrian / Michigan ; † December 30, 2004 in Toronto ) was a Canadian organist, choir director and music teacher.

Life

Stafford grew up in Leamington, Canada, where she was organist at St. John's Anglican Church in 1921 . From 1925 to 1927 she studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto with Healey Willan , George Douglas Atkinson and Ernest Seitz . In 1926 she received a gold medal for the organ. In 1927 she became organist and choir director at the new Park Road Baptist Church . She held this position until 1958. Here she ran an annual Christmas program that included works such as Willan's Mystery of Bethlehem , Martin Shaw's The Crib, and Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols . From 1970 she was organist and music director at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church .

Stafford made her debut as a concert organist in 1933. She appeared at Casavant Society events and toured Canada. She was president of the Women's Musical Club of Toronto and honorary member of the Toronto Heliconian Club , first female board member of the Toronto regional association of the Royal Canadian College of Organists, and 1957-59 first female president of the regional association, which she honored with a Distinguished Service Award . From 1927 to 1952 she taught piano and organ at the Royal Conservatory of Music .

source

• Muriel Stafford ( English, French ) In: Encyclopedia of Music in Canada . published by The Canadian Encyclopedia .