St. Paul's Senior Staff

David Macfarlane,
Organist and Choir Director (part-time)

davidm@stpaulsdelray.org

David S. Macfarlane , a critically acclaimed organ recitalist, was named the Third Prize winner in the National Competition in Organ Improvisation, sponsored by the American Guild of Organists, held in Philadelphia in 2002. He was also honored by being chosen as organist for Pope John Paul II’s Mass in Giants’ Stadium during the 1995 Newark Archdiocese Papal Visitation, an event that was seen on world-wide television. Mr. Macfarlane enjoys an active career as recitalist and, in addition to his many performances throughout the United States, was twice privileged to play in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome before an audience of several thousand. In 1998 he performed two back to back recitals in different venues for the annual convention of the Organ Historical Society and in the Fall of 1999 he could be seen performing on four live broadcasts of the television show “The View.” Dr. Macfarlane has completed eighteen years as the Director of Music and organist at the First Presbyterian Church in Englewood, New Jersey. In this position he was artistic director of the Music Series and conducted two annual oratorios with orchestra as well as the annual Treelighting Concert, the largest choral and orchestral pops concert in Bergen County. He previously served ten years at the Church of the Holy Trinity on Manhattan’s Upper West Side where, in addition to his duties as organist and director of the highly regarded vocal ensemble, he oversaw the purchase of a new mechanical action Létourneau pipe organ, on which he performed the New York City premier of Stephen Paulus’ “Concerto for Organ.” He has served on the faculty of Bergen Community College for thirteen years, both teaching and as director of the BCC Chorus. He has been organist for the Reform Temple of Rockland for twenty-two years and also has been music director for recent productions of Amore Opera and Vocal Productions in New York City.

David Macfarlane completed his doctoral degree at Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, where he was chosen to receive the Elizabeth Durham Award for Keyboard Performance. His organ teachers included David Drinkwater, Gerre Hancock, John Weaver and Antonius Bittmann. He holds a Master’s degree in choral conducting from the University of Hartford, Hartt School of Music, and a Bachelor’s degree in organ performance from the University of Illinois. Dr. Macfarlane has earned the title of Associate of the American Guild of Organists, and. has served on the National Council as the elected representative of Region II. He is past Dean of the Northern NJ Chapter and also held the office of District Convener for the New Jersey district, and Dean of the Metropolitan New Jersey chapter, during which time he was program chairman for the 1993 Region II convention. As a conductor, Dr. Macfarlane was founder and director of the Marion (Indiana) Choral Society and Music Director for the Marion Civic Theater. He spent six years as Associate Conductor of the Summit (NJ) Chorale.

David is an avid gardener and cook, and maintains a thriving saltwater aquarium. He is the father of two sons, William and Jamison, and of Pepper, a miniature schnauzer, and Dolly, a schitzu mix.