From Yale Graduate to Viral Sensation: The organist who played Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody like never before

Josh Stafford, a gifted organist, received his Master of Music from the Yale School of Music in 2012. His talent did not go unnoticed, but it was not until 2020 that he had his unexpected breakthrough: he covered Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody on his organ and went viral with it. The video got millions of views and gained him many fans.

The challenge of playing a complex song like Bohemian Rhapsody on a single pipe organ is extremely difficult. But Stafford mastered it impressively.

His stage? The largest pipe organ in the world at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. With its 33,112 pipes, 447 registers and seven manuals, it is considered a record holder in the Guinness Book and is considered a masterpiece of organ building.

What is special about Stafford's style of playing the organ is how he makes full use of the entire instrument. When the rocky passage of Bohemian Rapsody begins, he not only plays the keys, but also uses the pedal board to create a powerful bass. This shows his technical skill on the one hand and his passion for music on the other. His version of the song is the best proof of how timeless and impressive this forgotten instrument can be.

If you prefer to experience the more traditional side of Stafford, you should listen to his version of the Christmas carol Oh Come All Ye Faithful. He is also the musical director of the Riverside Presbyterian Church in Florida and the Chautauqua Institution in New York, and he fulfills these duties just as passionately.

Besides his concerts, Stafford is still an improviser and even accompanies silent films with his music – an art that only a few artists still master today.

For those who want to learn more about the world's largest organ, there are more videos on his YouTube channel Boardwalk Organs. And if you want to follow Josh Stafford further, you can follow him on Instagram.