Russell Schulz-Widmar (b. 1944) — Elegy on the Old 100th (1978) for organ
American composer Russell Schulz-Widmar (b. 1944) grew up northwest of Chicago, Illinois and was educated at Valparaiso University, the School of Music at Union Theological Seminary, and the University of Texas. He held positions for many years as Professor of Liturgical Music at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest (for 39 years) and Director of Music at University United Methodist Church (1971–93) and the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd (1993–2008), all in Austin, Texas. Schulz-Widmar was President of the Hymn Society in the US and Canada and Dean of the Evergreen (Colorado) Music Conference. He was a member of the Standing Committee of Church Music of the Episcopal Church and chaired the music committee of the Episcopal “Hymnal 1982.” He edited or co-edited a number of other hymnals including “The New Hymnal for Colleges and Schools” by Yale University Press. He has more than a hundred pieces of music in publication, mostly for choir or organ. Schulz-Widmar retired to Berlin, Germany.