Organist

The college organist is responsible for playing the Chapel organ during services, as well as playing music for major college events like Matriculation, Convocation, Commencement, and reunions. The organist also has a role in both mentoring and teaching students.

Prior to 1930, the role of organist was filled by students and the occasional professor or staff member. In 1930, Trinity hired its first official college organist, Arthur Tillman Merritt. Alongside his organist duties, Merritt taught two elective courses on music theory. He worked at Trinity for two years, and was succeeded by Clarence Everett Watters in 1932, one of “the country’s foremost organists.” Watters held the position until 1969, playing services and putting on a series of organ recitals, though he also taught freshmen English when interest in music “fell by the wayside” at the school.

Though he was no longer Trinity's organist, Watters served as a consultant in 1971 for the installation of Trinity’s newest pipe organ. The instrument was a gift from Mrs. Newton C. Brainard, in memory of her husband who had been a College trustee for 41 years and a former mayor of Hartford. The organ was built by Austin Organs, Inc. in Hartford, and consists of more than 4,700 pipes. It was designed specifically for Trinity’s chapel and is consistently updated with new technology.

In 1977, Trinity hired notable organist John Rose. Rose has performed at concert halls around the world and recorded 16 LP and CD albums over the course of his career. In 2016, the “John Rose College Organist-and-Directorship Distinguished Chair of Chapel Music” position was created and endowed in his honor by the estate of Trinity professor Marjorie Van Eenam Butcher. Rose retired not long after in 2017, after 40 years of service to the college. He was succeeded by his student Christopher Houlihan, who has held the John Rose College Organist-and-Directorship Distinguished Chair of Chapel Music since 2017.

Houlihan graduated from Trinity in 2009. During his years at Trinity, he performed with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, played at the wedding of the daughter of President James F. Jones, Jr., and studied abroad in Paris as the assistant musician at the American Cathedral located in the city. After graduating, he obtained a master's degree from The Julliard School. Since becoming Trinity’s organist in 2017, Houlihan has continued presenting the annual Trinity Organ Series as well as teaching a class for student organists and directing the Chapel Singers. He maintains an active concert career, traveling both nationally and internationally for solo recitals and to appear with orchestras.