Darwin Wolford
Darwin Wolford was Director of Organ Studies and faculty at Brigham Young University- Idaho. Darwin served on the Church’s General Music Committee and Executive Hymnbook Committee. He was always interested in music and started piano lessons when he was eight years old. He graduated from Utah State University in 1960 and received a Master of Music degree in 1963 and a Ph.D. in organ and composition in 1967. He has written music for many different choirs and orchestras. Darwin helped with the publication of the hymnbook and children’s songbook we use today.
Dr. Wolford was my very first piano teacher! He is also my mother’s baby brother. He is an incredible musician and an awesome person. Thank you Uncle Darwin for your wonderful example!
He was my teacher as a second year music student at Ricks College in 1976. He loved Bach and taught me that a key to good music is a compelling bass part.
Dr. Wolford and I are related through his mother and met for the first time when he was my music professor at Ricks College in the late 80s. While there, I sat in on one of his organ performances as he played Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor (BWV 565). As his fingers and feet floated over the keys effortlessly and beautifully, I was content in knowing that I would not be playing the organ during this lifetime. At age 41, my piano teacher said that I’d do well to learn the organ and split my lessons between piano and organ. It took a while to get to where I felt a belonging at the “King of Instruments”. I have now been serving as an organist in church for several years and am loving it. Placing a picture of Darwin in the music room of my home has helped keep me inspired and utilizing his books and compositions have helped immensely. I am thankful every day that Darwin and I connected while I was in college. He truly is an example of a man that has utilized his most beautiful of talents in making the world a better place.
My wife Julie Peterson (now Kerby)says at age 9 (1961) took lessons from him in Snowflake Az.
He wrote a song for her and we have it framed. We live in Gilbert Az
Jkerby25@gmail.com