Leopold Stokowski at St James's Piccadilly

During his influential career Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977) extended the range of music played by symphony orchestras. He explored new ways to bring music to larger audiences. He was born in London on 18 April 1882.

He began his musical career as an organist and later accepted the role of principal organist here at St James's Church when just 21 years old. He stayed only two years before leaving to take up an appointment at St Bartholomew’s church in New York in 1905.  

"The congregation [at St Bartholomew's] was fond of Stokowski’s uncommon musical selections, but one day he went too far.  He was thrown out in 1908 after concluding a service with John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” as loud as the organ would play..." (source)

Leopold Stokowski at wikipedia

Leopold Stokowski (sat next to the Rector) in this 1905 picture of the choir he directed at St James's