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Paul Jenkins dead at 86

October 22, 2015

Paul Rogers Jenkins, Jr., who served as professor of organ at Stetson University’s School of Music in DeLand, Florida, from 1956–93, died on August 12 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Born on June 1, 1929, in Rock Hill, South Carolina, he studied with Robert Noehren both at Davidson College and the University of Michigan.

Earlier in his career, Jenkins held positions at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. During his early years at Stetson University, Jenkins served as the organist and choir director at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. He performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. In 1976 he was awarded the university’s newly endowed Price Chair in Organ.

Paul Jenkins spent sabbaticals (and other breaks) studying with Gustav Leonhardt, Cor Kee, and Charles Letistu in Europe. His interest in the first mechanical-action instruments that came to America, made by Rudolf von Beckerath of Hamburg, Germany, inspired him to acquire for Stetson a substantial Beckerath organ in 1961. This instrument, now named the Paul R. Jenkins, Jr. Organ, served as the model of organ-reform design for generations of students, and was followed by five more Beckerath organs on the Stetson campus. The last of these acquired was the Jenkins’ house organ, given to the university at the time Paul and his beloved wife Janice moved to Oklahoma City to be closer to their daughter Catherine and their extended family.

Paul Jenkins is survived by his wife of 63 years, Janice, their children, Catherine and John, several grandchildren, and many dozens of former students. He was a true pioneer in organ teaching and in the informed instruction on mechanical-action organs and harpsichords. Paul and Janice Jenkins have remained great supporters of organ and harpsichord study at Stetson, and ask that memorial contributions be made to the Paul and Janice Jenkins Organ/Harpsichord Endowment Fund in memory of Paul Jenkins. To make an online gift, visit www.stetson.edu/give or send a check to Stetson University, School of Music, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., Unit 8286, DeLand, Florida 32723.

—Boyd Jones 
John E. and Aleise Price Professor of Organ 
Stetson University