David Hurd

David is a composer, concert organist, choral director and educator. He currently serves two roles—professor of sacred music and director of chapel music—for the General Theological Seminary in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City. David is also the music director at the Church of the Holy Apostles in Chelsea.

He held several church staff positions, including assistant organist at Trinity Church, and director of music at Church of the Intercession and All Saints' Church, both in Manhattan. His "Intercession Mass" setting is used by congregations across the United States. With over 100 choral and organ works in print, his compositions have appeared in numerous recordings in both the United States and England.

David regularly works with congregations and organizations seeking to commission new anthems and organ works. His premieres include "Gloria, gloria," for 4-part choir and instrumental accompaniment, commissioned by the Boy's Choir of Harlem, and premiered at Avery Fisher Hall; "O the Depth of Love Divine," for 4-part choir, brass and organ, commissioned by The Rt. Rev. Neil Alexander, Bishop of Atlanta, and premiered at his consecration; and "Arioso & Final" for organ, commissioned by the Queens Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. "Sonata for Saxophone and Organ," commissioned by the Hall-Powers Duo, premiered in Ljubljana, Slovenia at the International Saxophone Congress in 2006.

Dr. Hurd attended the High School of Music and Art, the Juilliard School and Oberlin College. He holds honorary doctorates from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, and Church Divinity School of the Pacific, given in recognition of his contributions to sacred music. In 1977 he received first prizes in both organ performance and in organ improvisation from the International Congress of Organists—the only person to ever win both prizes in the same year.