Mark X. Hatfield

Beloved concert organist and church musician, choral director, teacher, and vocalist, Mark X. Hatfield died on Wednesday, July 19th, at 12:32pm after a medical complication. Mark was born on June 26th, 1949 in Evansville, Indiana to George and Anna Hatfield, where he was a lifelong resident. Mark is best known for his profound work in classical and sacred music in a career that spanned six decades. His influence in music and the arts in the tri-state area and far beyond cannot be overstated. His creativity and musical genius was without question and his work in the arts has shaped the music scene in Evansville since the 1960s. Mark leaves an undeniable legacy and will be remembered by thousands for his work, his lively personality, and his loving heart. Mark began his career in music at the very young age of 10, when he was appointed organist at St. Mary Catholic Church in downtown Evansville. Mark showed signs of his prodigious talent as soon as he was able to walk, often drawn to keyboards in places he would visit with his family. He had a particular gift for the pipe organ, made apparent when he first sat at the console of the organ at St. Mary. Mark attended Rex Mundi High School and studied under Dr. Oswald Ragatz at Indiana University. During his undergraduate study, Mark was diagnosed with cancer and later completed his degree in Organ Performance at the University of Evansville, studying with Robert Luther and Dr. Douglas Reed. Throughout his studies, he maintained his work in sacred music, playing and directing at a number of local churches and as a featured artist in concerts around the Midwest. A brilliant instructor, Mark has taught hundreds of students throughout the years in organ, piano, and voice. A number of his students have gone on to international careers in music, many of whom continue to credit Mark for developing their talent and offering them the foundation to achieve great success in the creative arts. In his early adult life, Mark served as adjunct faculty for the University of Evansville music school and was a featured teacher and conductor in a number of youth orchestras and choirs throughout the country. Although performing was a love of Mark’s, working in sacred music was his true passion. Throughout his career, Mark was the Organist and Director of Music in many churches throughout the Evansville area, including St. Mary Catholic Church, First Baptist Church, Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Bethlehem United Church of Christ, St. John’s East United Church of Christ, and Aldersgate United Methodist Church. He was known as a force of creativity and inspiration and his church music programs were often the most respected in the city. As a concert performer, Mark has traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe, drawing capacity crowds at nearly all of his events. One of his proudest performances was playing for the Pope at the Vatican. His concert programs were met with overwhelming enthusiasm, not only the result of his outstanding musicality, but his warm and humorous demeanor with his audiences. He has also recorded a number of albums, including “Praise the Lord with Drums and Cymbals,” recorded live in Los Angeles on the largest church organ in the United States, “Christmas with Mark X. Hatfield,” featuring the pipe organ at St. John’s East U.C.C., a recording of the dedication concert celebrating the new pipe organ at. St. Mary Catholic Church, and on Karl Haas’s compact disc, “The Story of the Bells.” His music has been featured on a number of NPR programs, including ‘Pipe Dreams,” and “Adventures in Good Music.” Mark was also a featured Music Director in musical theater throughout the tri-state, conducting hundreds of performances on local stages. Mark worked for many decades with several pipe organ companies as a consultant and tonal finisher. His work may be seen in a number of local pipe organs and many instruments beyond the local area. In 1986, Mark made his mark on the choral scene in Evansville when he founded Evansville Choral Artists, a semi-professional group that welcomed many of the best singing artists in the area. Evansville Choral Artists set a new bench mark for choral excellence during its lengthy run, delighting audiences and fellow artists with multiple concerts offered throughout each year. At the time, this choral group was largely recognized as the finest in the Evansville area, receiving rave reviews from the press, local professional musicians, and the thousands who attended the choral concerts each year. Mark served as the Director of Music for Alexander Funeral Homes and Cemetery for over 40 years. He was a member of the Evansville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, where he served as Dean and Sub Dean, the American Choral Directors Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. In recent years, Mark has traveled extensively performing at concerts, benefits, festivals, and in sacred arts series. For many decades, he performed piano and piano/organ concerts throughout the country with his duo partner and friend, Dr. Eulalie Wilson of Evansville, and his former student and close friend. Dr. William Barnett, formerly of Evansville. He could regularly be seen on the front porch of his historic home in downtown Evansville playing his calliope to the delight of festival goers and local residents. Mark was preceded in death by his mother, Anna “Tiny” Hatfield. He is survived by his father, George A. Hatfield; sister, Paula Lattner and her husband Mark; sister, Lisa Lant and her husband Richard; brother, Scott Hatfield and his wife Darleen; sister, Mary Beth Ennulat; nieces; nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews. He deeply loved and was close to his family of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and those he considered to be his “extended” immediate family. An extraordinarily generous and kind man, he leaves behind thousands who were thankful to know him and call him friend. Unfortunately, what saved his life in his 20’s, led to his medical complications later in life. He was with his niece, Allie Lant Cavins and his sister, Lisa Lant, at the time of his passing. He left this world peacefully as a harpist filled his hospital room with music, the language Mark spoke best. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 am Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at St. Mary Catholic Church, 613 Cherry Street in Evansville, officiated by Fr. Stephen Lintzenich and Fr. Ted Tempel with burial in Rose Hill Cemetery in Newburgh. Friends may visit 2:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Monday, July 24, 2017, at Alexander Newburgh Chapel where a Vigil Service will be held at 7:00 pm. There will also be visitation 9:00 am until service time on Tuesday at the church.