Dr. Paul Wayne Mosteller

Paul was born on July 5, 1952 and grew up in Havertown, Penn. He quickly demonstrated his musical aptitude, beginning piano lessons at the age of six and then graduating to playing the organ at age 13. He began his first job as a church organist at the age of 17 and continued to serve congregations through his music for the rest of his life, uplifting communities, bringing healing, and praising God. Paul worked tirelessly to offer the full measure of his abilities leading worshipful music, and he was recognized as an Associate of the American Guild of Organists in 2005. He served as Director of Music at Temple Emanu-El in Birmingham, Ala. for almost 30 years, receiving honorary membership upon his retirement. Churches he served as organist, chorister, or music director in the Birmingham area included Sardis Baptist, Canterbury United Methodist, St. Luke’s Episcopal, St. Thomas Episcopal, Mountain Brook Baptist, and finally St. Mary’s on the Highlands Episcopal, which he and Darla chose as their church home.

Vocally gifted, Paul began singing as a boy in St. George’s Episcopal Church. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Science in Music Education at West Chester University (Penn.) in 1973, his Master of Music in Vocal Performance from The Juilliard School (NY) in 1977, and his Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa in 1983. Paul sang at St. Thomas Fifth Avenue (NY) under Gerre Hancock, held leading roles in more than 20 opera, operetta, and musical theater productions and performed as a baritone soloist in numerous productions and recitals around the world during his career.

He began his academic career at Truman State University (Kirksville, Mo.), and joined the faculty of the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1988. During his 29-year tenure at UAB, he served as Associate or Interim Chair of the music department from 2011 until his retirement in 2017. In 2024 he was named Associate Professor Emeritus, with the resolution noting that he was “widely regarded as a jovial and exceedingly collaborative colleague and mentor.”

The accolades and honors he earned during his life point to the dedication to excellence he brought to his careers, yet the truer measure of his contributions is reflected in the private notes of gratitude from the thousands of lives he touched. From the students he gently coached through difficult times to those who benefited from his tireless mentorship as an academic advisor; from the colleagues who appreciated his professionalism and good humor to the congregations he brought together and uplifted, Paul’s life was an outpouring of love.

He loved being a dad, and his daughters Alison and Kelly remember always knowing they were deeply loved and joyfully celebrated in moments both small and significant – chauffeuring them to activities and cheering them on at swim meets as children, seeing the humor in foibles and imparting the joy of growth, sharing his adventurous spirit through numerous road trips and by taking each on a special vacation at the end of high school. He traveled to their homes both in the U.S. and abroad simply to be together, and celebrated holidays, graduations, weddings, baptisms and B’nai mitzvot as they grew and had families of their own. He modeled generosity, love, dignity, and compassion during his life, especially in the example he and Darla set of a marriage of mutual devotion.

Paul and Darla had known each other professionally for a few years when they decided to have lunch together in 1998. Four hours and one parking ticket later, they both recognized the beginning of a relationship filled with deep love for the other. They were married at Canterbury United Methodist Church on March 13, 1999. Throughout their years together, they exhibited true partnership, enjoying traveling close to home, across Europe, and as far away as Australia and Indonesia. Paul and Darla celebrated their life through shared appreciation of music, food, wine, and art. They brought out the best in each other and showed their abiding love through constant small gestures of tenderness and joy.

Paul was deeply spiritual, and his faith in God was a cornerstone of his life. This faith led him to ministry through music, guided his professional and personal relationships, and sustained and comforted him in his final months.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Betty Mosteller. He is survived by his loving wife of over 26 years, Darla; beloved daughters Alison (Greg) Mingo of Towson, Md. and Kelly (Kevin) Russ of St. Paul, Minn.; brother David (Laurel) Mosteller (Philadelphia, Penn.) and sister Ruth Desiderio (Philadelphia, Penn.); sister-in-law Joy (Jim) Hammond (Birmingham, Ala.), sister-in-law Cathy Spence (Birmingham, Ala.), and brother-in-law Tom (Brenda) Brooks (Dallas, Tex.); grandchildren Nathaniel, Charlie, and Rebecca Mingo and Margaret Russ, many nieces and nephews and innumerable colleagues, former students and dear friends.

Visitation will be held at St. Mary’s on the Highlands Episcopal Church, 1910 12th Ave. S, Birmingham on Thursday August 21 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and the memorial service will be held at St. Mary’s on the Highlands on Friday August 22 at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions to honor Paul’s legacy may be made to the music fund at St. Mary’s or the Paul Mosteller Scholarship in Voice at the UAB Department of Music.