Joan Lippincott, 89, concert organist and educator, died May 31 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Born Joan Edna Hult in Kearny, New Jersey, on December 25, 1935, she studied piano and organ from an early age. She eventually was a pupil of Alexander McCurdy at Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey, where she earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she received the artist’s diploma. Lippincott quickly established herself as an interpreter of major organ repertoire, particularly works of J. S. Bach.
Lippincott was widely regarded as a teacher of the late twentieth century. For nearly four decades, she served on the faculty of Westminster Choir College, where she was professor of organ and head of the organ department—the largest in the world at the time. She was both a demanding teacher and a lifelong mentor to her many students.
Beyond Princeton, Lippincott concertized widely. In 1967 she signed on with Lilian Murtagh Concert Management (which later became Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc.) and remained with the management throughout her career. In more than 600 solo recitals throughout the United States and abroad, she appeared at major cathedrals, churches, universities, and international festivals.
Her discography contains more than 20 recordings, many centered around the music of Bach, but also covering Mozart, Mendelssohn, Liszt, Widor, Duruflé, Alain, and Pinkham, among others. Her playing demonstrated her championship both of historical performance practice and the living American organ tradition.
In addition, Lippincott served from 1993 to 2000 as principal university organist at Princeton University, sat on the juries of several organ competitions, and was active in the American Guild of Organists and other professional organizations. She served on the advisory board of The American Bach Society and was an honorary member of Sigma Alpha Iota.
Westminster Choir College awarded her its Alumni Merit Award, Distinguished Merit Award, Williamson Medal, and an honorary doctorate. In 2013 the Organ Historical Society published a festschrift, Joan Lippincott: The Gift of Music, with Larry G. Biser editing contributions from students and colleagues. Rider University awarded her its Sesquicentennial Medal of Excellence in 2015. She was the honoree for the American Guild of Organists Endowment Fund Distinguished Artist Award Recital and Gala Benefit Reception in 2017 and was named International Performer of the Year by the guild’s New York City Chapter in 2019.
Joan Lippincott was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis, to whom she was married 58 years. A service of thanksgiving for her life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on October 4 at the Princeton University Chapel.
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