Stephen “Stef” C. Price recently joined the music faculty at the University of Washington (Seattle) as the inaugural Paul B. Fritts Faculty Fellow and Artist-in-Residence and head of organ studies beginning in September 2023. Dr. Price teaches organ performance, church music, and keyboard harmony courses. In addition, he leads ongoing initiatives toward the development and revitalization efforts of the UW program, continuing the legacy of his predecessor, Dr. Carole Terry.
Several initiatives have taken place under his leadership, including reinstating the Annual Walker-Ames Halloween Organ Concert, organizing masterclasses by nationally renowned guest artists, and leading University projects connecting donors to the organ program and School of Music. Dr. Price also organizes yearly rental agreements with Seattle churches and the School of Music, allowing students to utilize the eclectic range of organs available in the city.
In the formative years of study, he served on the music ministry staff at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church and as an Organ Scholar at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral in Buffalo, New York. Subsequently, he attended Western Connecticut State University (Danbury, CT) and concurrently served as Organ Scholar at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on the Green (Norwalk, CT). Following undergraduate studies, he received a Fulbright Scholarship to Toulouse, France, where he studied "Historical and Modern" performance practices of French organ music. Upon returning to the States, he enrolled at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University (Bloomington, IN), receiving the Master of Music and Doctor of Music degrees.
In addition, he competed and garnered awards in international competitions, including the Franz Schmidt Organ Competition (Austria), the André Marchal Organ Competition (France), and the Canadian International Organ Competition (Montreal).
Following his graduate studies, he accepted a full-time position as Associate Director of Music and Organist at First United Methodist Church, San Diego, California (2015-2017). He then received an assistant teaching professorship at Ball State University (Muncie, IN). During his appointment (2018-2023), he taught organ performance, church music, music history, and music theory courses. In addition, he served as coordinator for the Sursa American Organ Competition, a national event open to high school and pre-professional organists hosted at Ball State.
His professional activity includes presentations on pedagogy, organ literature, and hymn playing for chapters of the American Guild of Organists. As a performer, he has given concerts around the U.S., including the recent premiere of Psalm 23 for Organ, composed by Dr. Eurydice Osterman for the 2024 AGO National Convention in San Francisco. He has participated as a juror for competitions, including the National Organ Playing Competition (Fort Wayne, IN); the Strader Organ Scholarship Competition (University of Cincinnati); and the 2024 Barlow Prize Endowment for Music Competition – Organ (Snowbird, UT).
The 2024-2025 season includes appearances at Christ Church Anglican Cathedral (Victoria, B.C.), Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (Seattle, WA), Loyola University (Chicago, IL), and a juror for the Taylor National Organ Competition (Atlanta, GA). Additionally, Michael Barone has featured recordings and live performances on the Pipedreams broadcast on NPR.
Teachers: Andrew Scanlon, Stephen Roberts, Vince Edwards, Michel Bouvard, Jan Willem Jansen, Bruce Neswick, Wilma Jensen, and Janette Fishell.
Dr. Price’s debut album, Paris Impact Organ Suites, is released on the Raven recording label.
He is represented by Seven Eight Artists: SevenEightArtists.com/price
