William Whitehead died on July 6 in Stamford, Connecticut, from diabetes and a stroke. He was 62. He held the BMus from the University of Oklahoma, as a student of Mildred Andrews; the Artist Diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music, studying with Alexander McCurdy; and the MMus from Columbia University. He served as organist and director of music at First Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem, PA; Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York City; Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church, Bloomfield Hills, MI; and churches in Connecticut, most recently Second Congregational Church of Greenwich. He had served on the faculty of the Guilmant School and Mannes College of Music, New York City, and Westminster Choir College. He was elected three times to the AGO National Council and was involved in founding the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. In 1962 he was the first organist to win the Young Artist Award of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and performed the premiere of Aaron Copland's Symphony for Organ and Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy. He played recitals at three AGO conventions and at the Music Teachers National Association convention.
Related Articles
