Charles Callahan died December 25, 2023. He was born on September 27, 1951, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was well known as an award-winning composer, organist, choral conductor, pianist, and teacher—with over 300 works in print for organ, piano, chorus, solo voice, chamber ensemble and orchestra. He was a graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. Additional study had been in England, France, Germany, and Belgium. His organ teachers included Theodore Marier, George Faxon, and Alexander McCurdy.
Among his notable compositions were two commissions from Harvard University and commissions from the Archdioceses of St. Louis and New York for Papal visits, scored for full orchestra, choir and congregation. His Mosaics, a symphonic work in four movements for organ and orchestra, was premiered in the St. Louis Cathedral-Basilica. Dr. Callahan was frequently asked to advise on the design of new organs and the restoration and improvements to existing instruments. His two volumes on American organ building history, The American Classic Organ and Aeolian-Skinner Remembered, had become standard reference works.
An active church musician and concert organist, Callahan conducted many major choral works with orchestra, performed on many of the great organs of the world, and had a dozen solo organ recordings to his credit. He taught at Catholic University, Middlebury College, Baylor University, Rollins College, and The Bermuda School of Music. He has served as organist and music director for churches in Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., New York, Vermont, and his native Massachusetts.
An award-winning member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, in 1991 he was awarded the Papal Honor of Knighthood in the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He held the Associate and Choirmaster certificates of the American Guild of Organists, and was honored by the AGO with its 2014 Distinguished Artist award, “for his illustrious career as composer, performer, teacher and consultant, and his lifelong service to the sacred music profession.”
Charles Callahan was laid to rest with his parents in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to the music programs at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 326 College Street, Middlebury, Vermont 05753, or Cornwall Congregational Church, 2598 Route 30, Cornwall, Vermont 05753.
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