Church Council Votes to Hire Mitchell Crawford as Minister of Music
BREAKING NEWS
On Tuesday, March 13 Church Council voted unanimously to hire Mitchell Crawford to serve as our Minister of Music. Start date TBD. Rejoice with us!
EDUCATION
Master of Music in Choral Conducting, Florida State University (Advanced training in conducting with Dr. André Thomas)
Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance, The Juilliard School (Advanced organ studies with Paul Jacobs)
Diplôme (avec mencion en contrepoint) L'Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris (in completion of the European-American Musical Alliance program)
WORK
Organist and Director of Music Ministries, St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, Fort Worth Texas, 2016 — present
Organist and Associate Musician, The Woodlands United Methodist Church, The Woodlands, Texas, 2014 – 2016
Organist, First Baptist Church, Tallahassee, Florida, 2012 – 2014
Interim Director of Music (2009 – 2012); Organist (2007 – 2008), Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York City, New York
Organist, The City Church, New York City, New York, 2005 – 2007
TEACHING & PERFORMING
Instructor in Organ, Piano, and Music Theory, 2014 – 2016 The Woodlands Academy of Fine Arts
Graduate Teaching Assistant, 2013 – 2014 Department of Choral Music, The Florida State University
Teaching Fellow, 2007 – 2008 Department of Theory, The Juilliard School
Recitals at major venues, including Harvard and Princeton Universities, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, New York, as well as numerous churches, including St. Ignatius of Loyola (New York City) and Greene Memorial United Methodist (Roanoke).
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Guild of Organists, American Choral Director’s Association, Church Music Institute, Presbyterian Association of Musicians
In Mitchell’s words: “It is with great enthusiasm that I submit this letter and resume in consideration for the position of Minister of Music for Old South Church. I’ve been fortunate to spend time at Old South. I interacted with members of the staff as well as the congregation, read bulletins and newsletters, pamphlets and cards. I asked questions and sought interactions, and observed as much as I could about the way Old South goes about its ministry. Doing so was my attempt to qualify the sense I’d had from the outset: that this was a church pushing ahead, united in vision and purpose, and unencumbered by the divisions that have hindered mainline denominations for decades. Being in the midst of Old South was, frankly, exciting!”
Conversations with Mitchell were heartwarming, sincere, earnest, and authentic.In addition to being an excellent and inspiring musician, he's also fun, funny, approachable, and full of grace and kindness. — Sam Ou
Mitchell possesses the joy of music and a teacher’s heart.—Deb Washington
With Mitchell, the legacy of a thoughtful, creative, talented, and pastoral Minister of Music will continue to flourish. —Martha Schick
Mitchell Crawford is not only an exceptional musician, he also possesses a pastor’s heart. A true “Minister of Music”. —Bob Kosturko