Joshua Stafford

The meticulous technique, innate yet highly mature musicality, and constant musical engagement exhibited by Joshua Stafford compelled the jury of the 2016 Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition to name him, out of 12 stellar competitors, the Pierre S. du Pont First Prize Winner of this illustrious event.

Already in demand as a recitalist, improviser, choral accompanist, and silent film accompanist, Joshua has performed at many notable venues, including the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia, the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C., Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center, Ocean Grove Auditorium in New Jersey, the Chautauqua Institution in New York, and Spivey Hall in Georgia. His recital at the 2015 Conference of the Association of Anglican Musicians was hailed as “technically flawless yet exceptionally nuanced and spontaneous.” Joshua has appeared with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra and National Symphony Orchestra, and recordings of his performances have been aired on Minnesota Public Radio’s Pipedreams and WRTI’s Wanamaker Organ Hour. In June 2018, Joshua gave the premier performance at The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia of a transcription for organ of Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite which accompanied the animated film “Who Stole the Mona Lisa” produced as directed by Micah Chambers-Goldberg. Highlights of his 2019-2020 season include performances for the national convention of the Organ Historical Society (Dallas), the regional AGO convention (Buffalo, NY), the Cohan Performing Arts Center at Cal Poly University (California), Trinity College (Hartford, CT) and St. James’ Episcopal Church (Los Angeles).

A native of Jamestown, New York, Mr. Stafford received the bachelor of Music Degree from the Curtis Institute of Music in 2010 as a scholarship student of Alan Morrison. In 2012 he received his Master of Music degree from the Yale School of Music as a student of Thomas Murray (organ performance) and Jeffrey Brillhart (organ improvisation). Joshua was the recipient of both a full-tuition scholarship and the Robert Baker Award, given to a first year organ student who exhibits exceptional promise and achievement in their field of study.

In April 2021, Joshua Stafford was installed as the Director of Music Ministries and Organist at Riverside Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Prior to his Jacksonville appointment, he was Director of Music at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Morristown, New Jersey from 2013-early 2021. In 2020, he was named Director of Sacred Music and the Jared Jacobsen Chair Organist of the Chautauqua Institution in western New York State.

Joshua Stafford is represented in North America exclusively by Phillip Truckenbrod Concert Artists, LLC.