Stephen J. Tharp, born on April 12, 1970, is an American organist and composer. He earned degrees from Illinois College and Northwestern University, studying under Rudolf Zuiderveld and Wolfgang Rübsam. Tharp began his career as an organist at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York from 1995 to 1997, followed by a role at St. Bartholomew's Church from 1998 to 2002. In 2008, he performed during Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to New York. Tharp has been an artist-in-residence at Grace Church and St. James's Church on Madison Avenue. He has played over 1,600 concerts worldwide and recorded numerous albums, including Hymns Old And New (2008) and Organ Classics From Saint Patrick Cathedral In New York City (2010). His recording of the complete organ works of Jeanne Demessieux won the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik in 2009.
