Stephen Tharp

Stephen J. Tharp (born 12 April 1970) is an American organist and composer.

Education and training Tharp received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Illinois College and a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University, where he studied with Rudolf Zuiderveld and Wolfgang Rübsam, respectively. He also studied privately in Paris with Jean Guillou.

Career From 1995 to 1997, Tharp served as organist at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, and, from 1998 to 2002, he was associate organist at St. Bartholomew's Church in the same city. In 2008, he was selected as the official organist during Pope Benedict XVI's visit to New York, In September 2025, he was appointed artist-in-residence at Riverside Church.

Tharp has performed extensively as a concert organist, having played at over 1,600 concerts during more than 60 tours worldwide.

In addition to being a composer and transcriber in his own right, Tharp is a frequent performer of modern works, having premiered those of Philip Moore, Anthony Newman, Thierry Escaich, and others. He also plays the piano and harpsichord.

Awards and recognition Tharp has been described as "one of the most brilliant concert organists around these days". His recording of the complete organ works of Jeanne Demessieux won the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik in 2009. Tharp has also featured in a number of programs on American Public Media's Pipedreams.

Discography Louis Vierne: Complete Organ Symphonies, Vol. III, Aeolus (2019) Stephen Tharp: The St. James's Recital, Aeis (2016) Variations on "Rouen" (Iste Confessor), iTunes (2012) Stephen Tharp Plays Bach's Goldberg Variations, JAV Recordings (2011) Organ Classics from Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, JAV Recordings (2010) Stephen Tharp Plays the Organ at Saint Bavo, Haarlem, JAV Recordings (2009) Jeanne Demessieux: The Complete Organ Works, Aeolus (2009) Duruflé: Messe Cum Jubilo, JAV Recordings (2009) Hymns Old and New, JAV Recordings (2008) Stephen Tharp Plays the Anderson Organ, JAV Recordings (2007) Marcel Dupré: Le Chemin de la Croix, JAV Recordings (2005) The Widor Mass, Op. 36, JAV Recordings (2005) The Art of the Symphonic Organist, Vol. II, JAV Recordings (2004) Stephen Tharp at St. Sulpice, Paris, France, JAV Recordings (2002) Stephen Tharp: Debut in Europe, Organum Classics (2001) Stephen Tharp at Trumbull, Ethereal Recordings (1999) World Premieres and Transcriptions, Vol. I, Ethereal Recordings (1998) Legendary Organ Works, Vol. I, Ethereal Recordings (1997) Mendelssohn: The Six Organ Sonatas, Naxos (1996)