Paul Walker
Paul Walker is Professor of the Practice Emeritus, Department of Music, University of Notre Dame. Paul Walker is an organist, harpsichordist, musicologist, early music specialist, and church music director, all of which has led him to a multi-faceted career. During his many years in Charlottesville, he taught at the University of Virginia, where his duties included directing the Music Department’s Early Music Ensemble and teaching harpsichord, organ, and courses in Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music. He also founded (in 1991) and directed (for 20 years) the early music vocal ensemble Zephyrus, which presented many concerts, produced five recordings, and enjoyed three week-long residencies at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, Ely Cathedral, and Durham Cathedral. His most prominent church position was as director of music at Christ Episcopal Church in downtown Charlottesville, Before his retirement in 2020, Dr. Walker taught organ, basso continuo playing, and organ literature for nine years in the Sacred Music program at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN. His scholarly work has focused on the history of fugue and on music more broadly in the early modern era. A book on Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, aimed at non-specialists, is due to be published by Oxford University Press in the near future. His next big project, already underway, is a history of fugue in the seventeenth century.