Donald Dumler was honored at a Mass and reception on May 27, 2014, on the occasion of his retirement as principal organist from St. Patrick Cathedral in New York City. Dumler joined the staff of the cathedral in 1970 as associate organist. In 1990, he was appointed principal organist, and in 2009, he played his fortieth Christmas Eve Mass, a service that is broadcast throughout the world on both television and radio. He played for over 600 services a year in the cathedral. Many of these were weddings and funerals, and many of the services were for or were attended by celebrities and notable personages in government and business. Of special importance were the Masses celebrated during Pope John Paul II’s two visits to the cathedral in 1979 and 1995.
Born in Oklahoma, Donald Dumler had early training with Curtis Chambers in Oklahoma City. Later he studied with Mildred Andrews at the University of Oklahoma and was a scholarship student at the Juilliard School in New York City, studying with Vernon de Tar. He gave his first performance in Okeene, Oklahoma, at the age of twelve, when he performed for the closing banquet of the annual rattlesnake hunt. In addition to numerous recitals throughout the United States, Dumler made recordings and performed with the Juilliard Orchestra and the American Symphony Orchestra in both Carnegie Hall and Philharmonic Hall (now Avery Fisher Hall) at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
On May 1, 2014, Donald Dumler was named Principal Organist Emeritus of St. Patrick Cathedral in recognition for 43 years of faithful and dedicated service. His tenure was the longest of any musician in the history of the cathedral.
