Board of Reference

Dr. Samuel Adler
Board of Reference Dr. Samuel Adler Dr. Samuel Adler has composed more than 400 published works, many of them performed regularly by major ensembles. He has written books on orchestration, musicianship, and choral conducting. Among the many honors he has received are those from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, the Charles […]

Phillippe Entremont
Board of Reference Phillippe Entremont The exceptional career of Philippe Entremont began at the age of eighteen when he came to international attention with his great success at New York’s Carnegie Hall playing Jolivet’s piano concerto and Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Since then, he has pursued a top international career as a pianist, and […]

Professor Peter Erdei
Board of Reference Professor Peter Erdei Professor Peter Erdei is Director-General of the Zoltan Kodaly Pedagogical Institute of Music, Kecskemet, Hungary. He earned his diploma from the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest in 1968 and was Associate Professor of Choral Conducting there from 1973–2003. He was the first guest conductor of the Hungarian […]

John Hamersma
Board of Reference John Hamersma John retired in the spring of 2004 from his position at Calvin College as Professor of Music and College Organist after 50 years of teaching in the classroom and the organ studio, accompanying worship on campus and performing. He is currently serving his 31st year as Organist/Choirmaster at Grace Episcopal […]

June Hamersma
Board of Reference June Hamersma June Hamersma was born and raised in Grand Rapids. She grew up in a family of four children, struggling to survive during the Depression. June’s mother worked outside the home. June attended both Christian and public schools in Grand Rapids, and she and her family were faithful members of the […]

Judith Hancock
Board of Reference Judith Hancock Judith Hancock, Senior Lecturer in Organ and Sacred Music, was the Associate Organist of Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York, where she assisted in training and conducting the Saint Thomas Choir. Formerly Organist and Director of Music at Saint James’s Church Madison Avenue, New York, and the Church […]

James Litton
Board of Reference James Litton James Litton is regarded as one of America’s best known choral conductors. He is also highly regarded as a specialist in children’s choral techniques, a teacher and scholar, and a church musician and organist. He has conducted choral and orchestral works and presented seminars and workshops throughout North America, Central […]

Keith Lockhart
Board of Reference Keith Lockhart Keith Lockhart, now in his tenth season as conductor of the Boston Pops, has conducted more than 600 concerts in Symphony Hall and around the world. Nineteen national tours, three overseas tours of Japan and Korea, performances at Carnegie Hall, thirty-eight television shows, along with guest conductor appearances with major […]

Gerald Near
Board of Reference Gerald Near Gerald Near, one of the finest composers of church music writing today, first studied theory and composition with Leslie Bassett; organ with Robert Glasgow; and conducting with Elizabeth Green. He later returned for graduate study in orchestral conducting with Dominick Argento and conducting with Thomas Lancaster at the University of […]

Mark O’Connor
Board of Reference Mark O’Connor Mark O’Connor Grammy award-winning violinist, composer, and fiddler, Mark O’Connor is widely recognized as one of the most gifted contemporary composers in America and surely one of the brightest talents of his generation. A product of America’s rich aural folk tradition, Mr. O’Connor’s journey began at the feet of violin […]

Joanna Weir
Board of Reference Joanna Weir Joanna is an accomplished Voice Coach of international repute training and coaching professional actors, and also a specialist in Presentation and Communication Skills training for business and media. She trained in Voice at the Central School of Speech and Drama, and is the UK’s leading Linklater Teacher. Most recently she […]

Dr. Bruce Saylor
Board of Reference Dr. Bruce Saylor Dr. Bruce Saylor is the composer of symphonies, concertos, chamber music, songs, and large scale choral pieces, many of which have been commissioned and performed by major opera companies, orchestras, chamber ensembles and at music festivals around the world. A native of Philadelphia, Bruce Saylor received his bachelor’s and […]

Thomas L. Phillips
Board of Reference Thomas L. Phillips Thomas L. Phillips is the former chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Raytheon Corporation in Lexington, Massachusetts. He was elected chairman in May 1975, having previously served as president since 1964, and chief executive officer since 1968. Mr. Phillips retired as chairman and CEO in March […]

Dorothy Richardson
Board of Reference Dorothy Richardson A Northumbrian by birth, Dorothy Richardson moved to London after winning many music festivals in the north of England. There she won a major London County Scholarship which allowed her to study singing for four years at the Royal Academy of Music with the famous singer and teacher, […]

Dr. Mary Berry
Board of Reference Dr. Mary Berry Mary Berry, CBE, Musicologist and Augustinian Canoness Born Cambridge, England – June 29, 1917 Died Barton, England – May 1, 2008 (The Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord) Mary Berry, CBE was born into the extraordinary academic and musical world of Cambridge, England in 1917. Dr. Berry was […]

Dr. Paul Manz
Board of Reference Dr. Paul Manz Dr. Paul Manz (1919-2009) Paul Manz, the great composer, organist, teacher, and faithful servant of the Church, passed away on October 28, 2009. Gloriae Dei Cantores held both Paul and his wife Ruth in high regard, for their untiring work for excellence and authenticity in the music of the […]

Jean Casselman Wadds
Board of Reference Jean Casselman Wadds Jean Casselman Wadds was the first woman to be elected to the Canadian House of Commons to fill the seat of her husband Azra, who had held the seat from 1921 until his death in 1958.When elected she joined her father, the Hon. Earl Rowe, as the first-ever, father-daughter […]

Dr. Gerre Hancock
Board of Reference Dr. Gerre Hancock Gloriae Dei Cantores extends love and prayers to Judith and her family at the loss of Dr. Gerre Hancock, one of America’s most highly respected concert organists, composers, and directors. Gerre and his wife Judith are dear friends of Elizabeth Patterson and Gloriae Dei Cantores. For more than 20 […]

Dr. David Craighead
Board of Reference Dr. David Craighead Gloriae Dei Cantores honors the memory of Dr. David Craighead, an organist and teacher for more than 50 years. David embodied the essence of a superlative teacher – encouraging, correcting, disciplining, and caring for his students, instilling in them the vision to carry on what had been entrusted to […]

Julie Harris
Board of Reference Julie Harris Julie Harris is the most honored performer in Tony history with ten nominations and six awards. She won the award as Best Actress for I Am A Camera in 1952, for The Lark in 1956, for Forty Carats in 1969, and for The Last of Mrs. Lincoln in 1973. In […]