The Church of the Holy Trinity, Episcopal was in need of an organist. The musician, which also doubled as the church’s choirmaster, was moving out of town, leaving the church with a melodic malady.
Resumes were being accepted for the position and after hearing there was an opening, Dorothy Brasfield decided to apply.
“I had always admired Holy Trinity Church,” she said, and when Georgina Stanfield told me the church was looking for an organist I laughed and said, ‘I’ll come.’”
That was 30 years ago, and Sunday following the Vicksburg Orchestral Society performance a reception will be held to honor Brasfield.
Dorothy McInnis Wallace, a long-time church and choir member recalled Brasfield’s interview for the position.
“When we were interviewing people looking for the replacement for the former organist — we interviewed three people,” she said.
“After the interview process we asked Dorothy if she could play Widor Tacatto,” Wallace said, and upon realizing she could perform the six-minute-long fifth movement of Charles-Marie Widor’s Symphony for Organ No. 5 in F minor, Op. 42, No. 1 Wallace said, “We knew she could play anything.”
After being offered the position, Brasfield said both she and the church’s rector, the Rev. Clifton McInnis, decided it would be for a six- month trial period — to see if the church liked Brasfield and if Brasfield liked the church.
As it turned out, it was a good fit for both.
“I have loved every minute I have been here,” she said.
Brasfield’s musical abilities began at an early age.
“I never remember not playing the piano,” she said, and her instruction on the organ began in high school.
“We had a big organ at the house,” she said, because besides being a piano teacher her mother was also a church organist.
Brasfield graduated from Belhaven College and holds a master’s degree in music education from Jackson State University.
She was married for 48 years to F.E. Brasfield and has two children, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Her involvement in city and state organization includes serving on the Mississippi Music Educators advisory board, the board of directors for the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, presiding over the Mississippi Alliance for Art Education and CEO for the Vicksburg Orchestral Society.
Brasfield has also served on the Mississippi Opera Board, is a past director of the Nu Phi Epsilon professional music fraternity and past administrative director for Four Seasons of the Arts, a local group that offers concerts four times a year.
She has been the musical director or assistant for more than 20 shows at the Vicksburg Theatre Guild and was the musical director of “Gold In The Hills” for 30 years.
She was also instrumental in founding the Church of the Holy Trinity, Episcopal Conservatory of Fine Arts, which offers instruction in piano, voice, woodwind and brass instruments, photography and art.
“She is one of those persons that spreads herself out,” a member of the church and a friend of Brasfield’s, Hilda Hands said.
“Dorothy makes music an enjoyment,” Hand said.
“She always gets it right,” echoed Michael Beaty, who is the president and executive director of the MSO.
“Dorothy always gets right do business, but with a smile,” Beaty said.
“She stays focused on what the music can do for people and works hard through her connections to make a stable place for what the arts can do,” he said, and added, “She is just a great person.”
“Dorothy is always adamant about doing beautiful music,” Wallace said.
The concert begins at 4 p.m. Sunday at the church, 900 South St. The concert will include music by Wolfgang Amadeus and is free, but donations are encouraged. For more information, call 804-513-6903.