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.

[1][2][3] 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.

While in France he met Louis Vierne and Charles-Marie Widor and gave a private recital for the Dupré family on the Cavaillé-Coll organ in their home in Rouen.

[1][2][4] 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.