Robert J. Powell

Robert J. Powell (1932–2025) was a prolific composer of organ and choral music, a celebrated church organist, and an accomplished choir director. As a composer, he wrote in nearly every genre for church music, including anthems, service music, and large-scale oratorios. He was especially known for his contributions to the hymn concertato. His music was first published in 1959 and is now published by many major American and English church music publishers. He has over four hundred compositions for choral, solo, organ, handbells, and instrumental ensembles in print, for which he has won numerous awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). Previously, he served as assistant organist at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York, New York; director of music at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire; organist/choirmaster at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Meridian, Mississippi; and organist/choirmaster at Christ Church in Greenville, South Carolina, where he served for thirty-five years. After retirement, he took organist and choir directing roles at smaller churches. At his death, he was with the Church of the Redeemer in Greenville. Powell received his BA in organ and composition from Louisiana State University and his master’s in sacred music from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where he studied with Alec Wyton. He held certificates of Fellowship (FAGO) and Choirmaster (ChM) from the American Guild of Organists. In 1989, he was presented the Louisiana State University School of Music Alumnus of the Year award. He and his wife of 67 years have three children, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.