PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Aug. 2016 – Oct. 2018: Director of Music, Organist, Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Lapeer, Michigan

  • Director of liturgical music, organist at most masses; director of Parish Choir, Youth Choir, Mens Schola Cantorum, Treble Schola Cantorum. Most weddings and funerals. Mass organist with parish grade school, Bishop Kelley School.

Feb. 2015 – June 2016: Minister of Music, Saint James Episcopal Church, Grosse Ile, Michigan

Jan. 2010 – Feb. 2015: Musician, Immaculate Conception Parish, Lapeer, Michigan

  • Organist and often cantor, four weekend liturgies, holy days, most weddings and funerals. Youth Choir director (grades 3-8). During much of the academic year the Youth Choir led the corporate singing and also sang the antiphonal Kyrie, Gloria in Excelsis, Psalm, various acclamations, and often an anthem, each week at the 11 AM Sunday Mass. Director, Men’s Schola Cantorum for monthly Traditional Latin Mass, or Gregorian Mass. 1905 Hinners organ.

Jan. 2012 – Jan. 2015: Monthly Latin Mass Cantor, organist, Sacred Heart Church, Imlay City, Michigan

Dec. 2009 – May 2010: Interim organist, choir accompanist, praise team leader, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church (ELCA), Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

  • Service during a pastoral vacancy until the new pastor arrived and could participate in the musician search.

2003 – 2009: Director of Music Ministries, Holy Cross Church, Marine City, Michigan.

  • All service planning and playing for an average of five liturgies a week including extensive improvisation and use of instruments. Choir director: Parish Choir. Founder/director: Resurrection Choir, Schola Cantorum, 7.30 Choir, Saturday Choir, All Generations Choir, Boy and Girl Choir, Childrens Choir. Cantor scheduling and training. Supervision of Bell Choir, directed by another, but integrated into the liturgy. Establishment and direction of Fifth Sunday at Five Vespers and Concert series. Tuning and basic maintenance of large 1861 Hook organ. Acquisition and use of digital recording equipment for outreach, web posting of music and liturgy, and training. Maintenance of music pages on parish website. Establishment of YouTube page featuring school and parish music. Organist/pianist, choir director, and cantor training for weekly Holy Cross Grade School liturgy. Organist/pianist, choir and instrumental director, weekly Cardinal Mooney High School liturgy. Occasional classroom assistance to classes planning grade school liturgies.

2001 – 2003: Sanctuary Choir Director, First United Methodist Church, Marquette, Michigan

  • This choir sang at two Sunday services. Participated in weekly worship planning committee. Adviser and participant in Praise Team, 2001-2002. Assisted with blending of “Traditional” and “Contemporary” services into one congregational expression.

2000-2001: Associate Music Director, St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church, Tucson, Arizona

  • All service playing (organ, harpsichord, piano) including extensive improvisation. Bell Choir director. Friends of Music director included extensive concert series scheduling and arrangements, fund raising, publicity. Shared direction of Royal School of Church Music affiliated boy choir and girl choir; youth choir, twice-monthly Taizé Prayers. Accompanist for all choirs, occasional direction. Participant in the planning of the large and diverse music ministry with Dr. William Bradley Roberts, Music Director (Bill Roberts is now on the faculty of Virginia Theological Seminary).

1995 – 2000: Music Minister, The Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, Lewisville, Texas

  • Adult choir, auditioned youth choir, children’s choir, brass ensemble, recorder consort, organist and pianist for all services, service planning, development of a blended congregational repertoire based on classical hymnody, but including Taizé, Iona, renewal, African and other world music; extensive use of instruments. Wonder, Love, and Praise hymnal supplement placed in pews and used regularly. Establishment of monthly (sometimes weekly) Taizé prayer services. Development of percussion ensemble, hand bells, guitar group. Extensive teaching role in Alpha course with weekly Taizé Prayer. The Wise Women opera produced. New music rehearsal room. Preliminary planning for Patrick Murphy pipe organ, installed 2003. Lector training. This suburban Dallas parish has been one of the fastest growing Episcopal parishes in the United States.

1994 – 1995: Organist, choir director, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (ELCA), Hot Springs, Arkansas

  • Adult choir, children’s choir, organist for all services, service planning, cantor training. Pipe organ installed 1995.

1982 – 1990: Organist-Choirmaster, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Hot Springs, Arkansas

  • Adult choir, junior choir, bell choir, organist for all services, service planning, extensive use of instruments. Directed major organ rebuild. Composed brass, woodwind, hand bell and choir music. Regularly scheduled Evensongs, ecumenical and community services, hymn festivals, concerts and recitals.

1982 – 1987: Organist, choir director, music teacher, St. John’s Catholic School, Hot Springs, Arkansas

  • Daily Mass organist, director of multiple day school liturgical choirs which led singing and sang at three Masses each week; one choir was auditioned, rehearsed and visited other churches to sing at liturgies. Classroom music teacher: 1982-1985.

1980 – 1981: Director of Music, First United Methodist Church, Arkadelphia, Arkansas

  • Organist, accompanist for all services. Director of two Adult Choirs, two Children’s Choirs, Youth Bell Choir.

SELECTED RELATED EXPERIENCE

  • Recitalist – organ, harpsichord; Composer
  • Speaker, workshop leader on the subject of music in the contemporary church – Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas, Catholic Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan,
  • Central Michigan University United Methodist Campus Ministry.
  • Private piano, organ, music theory, trumpet, and composition instructor since 1979
  • Chant instructor, Mt. Thabor Monastery, Ortonville, Michigan
  • Graphic design for various non-profits, events, and 1stWebkeeper.com
  • Founder/leader of monthly, ecumenical “Prayer in the Style of Taizé” Marquette, Mich. 2001-2003
  • Founder, director, singer, Marquette Chant Choir
  • Director, Marquette Male Chorus, 2001-2003
  • Guest Director, Marquette City Band, 2002
  • Music Instructor, Center for Continuing Education & Conference Management, University of North Texas
  • Adjunct Faculty, Garland County Community College, Hot Springs, Arkansas, 1984-1990
  • Organist, harpsichordist, Hot Springs-Arkadelphia Chamber Orchestra and Bach Chorus, 1986-1990
  • Harpsichordist, vocalist, Hot Springs Baroque Ensemble, 1984-1990
  • Director, Hot Springs Community Chorus, Hot Springs, Arkansas, 1984-1990

MEMBERSHIPS

  • St. Martin’s Lutheran Church (ELCA), Marine City, Michigan
  • Associate, St. Augustine’s House – Lutheran Benedictine Monastery, Oxford, Michigan – Web site maintenance; Facebook administrator
  • Association of Anglican Musicians
  • American Guild of Organists – Associate of the American Guild of Organists (AAGO certificate) Chair, Education and Certification Committee, Dallas Chapter, 1999-2000
  • Liturgy and Music Commission, Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, 1996-2000
  • Liturgy and Music Commission, Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas, 1987-1989
  • Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia – professional music fraternity

I am widowed from Barbara McKinney Susan, musician and web maintenance provider. ~ DJS

EDUCATION

Master of Music, Organ Performance, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas – May 1992

  • Teachers included Lenora McCroskey, Marie-Madeleine Duruflé, Dale Peters. Harpsichord, continuo, and early music study with Lenora McCroskey. Additional study in early music. Teaching Fellow in harpsichord; recipient of Helen Hewett scholarship; harpsichordist, Baroque Orchestra.

Bachelor of Music, Organ Performance, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas – May 1980

  • Teachers included Robert Ellis, Ann Rye, and Kay McAfee. Extensive instrumental music and jazz experience. Additional study in applied acoustics, conducting, composition.

Piano and organ study with R. Craig Chotard, organist-choirmaster, retired. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Little Rock, Arkansas – 1972-1976