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The Most Holy Trinity
18 May 2008
Dear Friends in Christ,
Since our founding in 1852, St. Mary’s Church has never had a full-time musician on our staff; instead, the direction of sacred music has been the work of many dedicated part-time musicians, all of whom were engaged in other full-time work. But the time is now at hand for the next stage in the development of our program of sacred music.
After a nationwide search conducted over the past eight months, I am pleased to announce that as of July 2008, Kevin Clarke will be the full-time organist and choirmaster of St. Mary’s Church. Kevin comes to us from Dallas, Texas where he has served since 1990 at the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, and he is a master of the English choral tradition and the classical repertory of Catholic worship. Kevin grew up in Rhode Island and holds an undergraduate degree in music from Rhode Island College and a Master of Music from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He has wide experience in conducting choirs of adults and children and is an accomplished organist. One reviewer wrote in the American Choral Directors Journal that Kevin is “an organist of flawless technique and peerless taste” who “also stands at the helm of one of the finest liturgical choirs in the Southwest.” Another reviewer, describing Kevin’s work in the American Organist, wrote that “you may hear such music equally well done in a few other churches in the United States, but likely no where any better.” All of which means that St. Mary’s is most fortunate to be the new home of Kevin Clarke and his family. Kevin’s wife, Elizabeth, will be joining our parish school as both art teacher and (for now) teacher’s aid; she brings 15 years of experience teaching elementary school and the wisdom of raising their two children, who will be joining our third and fifth grade classes next school year. Elizabeth is a lifelong Episcopalian who was received into full communion with the Catholic Church two years ago, and Kevin is a cradle Catholic who is eager to use his musical gifts within the context of Catholic worship.
Even as we anticipate the arrival of the Clarke family, we must express our gratitude to Adam Pajan and Val McCall. For four years Adam has been our principal organist, and since 2006 he has also been the director of our adult choir. Val has been the director of our youth choir since 2000, and we owe a great debt of gratitude to Adam and Val for the splendid work they have done. Sunday 13 July 2008 will be the last day in the choir loft for both of these dedicated musicians, and we are indebted to them for their extraordinary service to St. Mary’s. Finally, for the past two years, Caroline Robinson has served as our Assistant Organist, and for the time remaining to her before she departs Greenville for her undergraduate studies, Caroline will continue to serve as our Assistant Organist.
After Kevin and his family arrive in Greenville, we will arrange opportunities to meet and welcome them to St. Mary’s. For now let us express our gratitude to Adam and Val and rejoice in their gift of sacred music which leads us so deeply into the mysteries of redemption.
Father Newman