His father, a successful businessman, ran a general store; his mother was a capable musician who played the organ at the local Presbyterian Church.
The following year he passed the examination to become a Fellow of the American Guild of Organists, and he played a central role in that organization for two decades.
[3] For ten years he also dabbled in business ventures with members of his family; but in 1911 he became organist at the Church of the Messiah, New York, and thereafter concentrated solely on music.
[6] Holmes was a strong supporter of the Harlem Renaissance, and Demarest followed his lead by introducing spirituals and other music of African Americans into services at the church.
[2] Demarest was not an innovator, but he provided a steadying hand in leading his profession, true service to communities in his church and elsewhere, and a body of music that was highly regarded by his peers.