McCurdy, Alexander

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McCurdy, Alexander

McCurdy, Alexander , American organist, choirmaster, and pedagogue; b. Eureka, Calif., Aug. 18, 1905; d. Philadelphia, June 1, 1983. He was a student of Farnum (1924–27) and at the Curtis Inst. of Music in Philadelphia (graduated, 1934). In 1926 he made his debut at N.Y.’s Town Hall, and thereafter toured extensively as a recitalist, often appearing in duo recitals with his wife, harpist Flora Greenwood. From 1927 to 1972 he was organist and choirmaster at Philadelphia’s Second Presbyterian Church. He was head of the organ dept. at the Curtis Inst. of Music (1935–72) and Westminster Choir Coll. in Princeton, N.J. (1940–65).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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