Celebrating half-century of musical inspiration

If not for the choir director at his childhood church in Belmont, Griffin said, he’d be composing computer code for video games instead.

“Alfa Radford was the first person to help me recognize in myself a talent and a love for music,’’ Griffin said. “I started singing in the church choir and I’ve never looked back.’’

Griffin isn’t the only person to tell this story. There are classically trained actors, singer-songwriters, and choreographers who can trace their artistic lineage back to the First Church in Belmont and the joyful woman who has played its pipe organ for half a century.

This year is Alfa Joy Radford’s 50th playing the organ at First Church, and her 14th as its music minister. In recognition, the Unitarian Univer salist congregation will be hosting a ceremony celebrating Radford’s contributions at noon on Nov. 21, and has established the Alfa Radford Legacy Music Endowment, which will fund music offerings at the Concord Avenue church after Radford retires.

Not, she says, that that day is likely to come any time soon.

“I’ll keep working as long as they’ll let me, because I love it so much,’’ she said. “Making music gives me back the energy that I need to continue making music.’’

Born in Acton, Radford grew up in a musical family. Her mother and siblings all played the organ, and by age 11 she was playing Sundays in her home church. She got her first job as a church organist at age 14.

In 1960, when she was 28, Radford was hired by the Belmont church to play the organ during services and lead the church’s two choirs, one for adults and the other for youths. Together, the choirs had fewer than 20 members.

“I just started working and talking to people and the programs grew,’’ Radford said. “Leadership is contagious, and if you are a leader, you inspire others to lead as well.’’

The congregation now has three youth and two adult choirs, plus a youth-choir alumni ensemble for members who have gone off to college; nearly 200 people — about half of the church’s regular membership — sing in the various groups.

Another small army of children and volunteers participate in the church’s musical theater program, now in its 31st year. Radford’s challenges include transposing the music for young voices, and breaking up parts to accommodate the 80 to 100 children who want to participate.

“Alfa will have the parents helping out, or convince other members of the family to try singing in a choir. Her music programs are a conduit that lead people into the church,’’ said Carolyn Howard, one of the assistant directors for this year’s play, “The Music Man.’’

“We’ve never had a family come in from outside the church and just have their child participate in a musical and never do anything else,’’ she said.

Howard and church members Jeanne Widmer and Jane Minasian have also been planning the reception and benefit dinner for the endowment fund.

All three women have had children participate in the choirs, and watched them incorporate Radford’s teaching into their lives.

“My son is the principal of an inner-city charter school in Philadelphia, and he uses music and dance to inspire his students,’’ Widmer said. “I don’t think he would have the same poise before groups that he has today if he hadn’t worked with her.’’

“My daughter was totally inspired by Alfa’s confidence and work ethic,’’ Minasian said. “Right now, she’s going to college for the performing arts and will pursue them professionally. But every year when she comes home, she makes time to sing in the alumni choir.’’

Another aspect of Radford’s ministry is the sophistication of the church’s concert programs. She holds yearly benefits for the upkeep of the church’s instruments, and stages performances with symphony orchestras and a coffeehouse concert series that brings in bluegrass, gospel, and other types of music.

Radford has studied music at Boston University, Northeastern University, and Cambridge University in England, and in 1996 was ordained as a minister of music. In addition to her church duties, she is serves as the assistant director of the Arlington-Belmont Chamber Chorus.

First Church’s senior minister, the Rev. David Bryce, says of Radford, “Her enthusiasm and warmth just envelop you.

“When people make music together, it takes them out of themselves and brings them as a community to a higher plane. Music is very spiritual.’’