Clarence Watters

Clarence Everett Watters FAGO MMus (February 26, 1902 − July 26, 1986) was an American organist, choirmaster and teacher who specialized in the works of Johann Sebastian Bach as well as 19th and 20th century French composers such as Marcel Dupré, with whom he had studied in France. He directed the music department at Trinity College, Hartford, in Connecticut from 1932 to 1967 and was also a visiting professor of organ at Yale University.

Early life and training Born in East Orange, New Jersey, to Frank and Isabella Watters, he took piano lessons before learning the organ with the British-born organist Mark Andrews, who also taught Carl Weinrich. Watters became skilled in improvisation and memorization. He was awarded an associateship of the American Guild of Organists (AAGO) in 1919 and a fellowship (FAGO) in 1921, and was later given an honorary Master of Music degree from Trinity College, Hartford. Later he was the organist and choirmaster at the Center Church in Hartford, Connecticut, from 1945 to 1952 before returning to St John’s, West Hartford, from 1952 to 1976.

Following his retirement from Trinity in 1967, Watters served as a visiting professor of organ at Yale University in 1968 and 1970, where his papers are now held as part of the Irving S. Gilmore Music Library collection. Watters continued to give lessons and perform concerts in retirement, including at Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral in 1973 in honor of his late friend Dupré.

He published articles in The American Organist and Diapason and began, though never completed, a biography of Dupré in the 1960s.

Personal life Watters was married to Marjorie Florence Stanley (d. 1984), with whom he had one son and two daughters. Clarence Watters: In Memoriam (AFKA SK-508)