Music is an integral and essential part of worship at St. John’s. Our music program is known for its excellent quality and distinctive style. Our volunteer choir and Choral Scholars from CMU lead the congregation in a wide range of music, from traditional Anglican and Episcopal hymns to medieval chant and Renaissance motets to American folk music and spirituals.
Our Musicians...
Dr. Mary Lou Nowicki, Organist, began her music education at the age of 5 when she started piano lessons. At the age of 14 she began organ lessons. Her instruction in music continued throughout high school and college. She received a Bachelor of Music in Organ from Lawrence University (Appleton, Wisconsin), a Master of Music in Organ from The University of Alabama, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ from The University of Michigan. She taught at Central Michigan University (Mt. Pleasant, Michigan)where she developed the first organ studio and curriculum and later became Chairman of the organ department at The University of Kansas. She has concertized in Europe, Canada, and widely across the United States. She is a co-arranger of an organ score to Handel's Messiah, published by G. Schirmer.She has been a musician at St. John's for over 40 years.
Dr. Moonyeen Albrecht, Organist, began her church music career at the age of 13 when she joined her parish church choir and began organ lessons. She has a Bachelor of Music Education Degree with an Organ Concentration from Mundelein College (Chicago) and Master of Music in Theory and Composition and Doctor of Music in Composition from Northwestern University (Evanston.) She is Professor Emerita from Central Michigan University where she taught theory, counterpoint and composition for 37 years. She has composed many anthems and service music for parish choir use and her "Four Psalms for Flute and Organ" (Concordia) and "Variations on 'Engelberg' " for organ (Selah) have been broadcast on the NPR program "Pipedreams" on several occasions. She is also the owner of her small stained glass business "Visions in Glass."
Chase Simpson, Choirmaster
Gabriel Kney, Organ Builder, grew up in the city of Speyer-am-Rhein in Germany where he apprenticed with master organ builder Paul Seattle. In 1951 he immigrated to Canada. In 1955, in London, Ontario, he started his own business of building organs, retiring in 1996.
At the time of the Tracker Organ Revival in America, in the late 1950s, he was the first Canadian organ builder to again build mechanical (tracker) action organs. St. John's Opus 65 is an outstanding example of the visual and tonal character of his instruments.
Our Organ: St. John's organ (pictured above), Op. 65, was built by the internationally-known Canadian organ builder, Gabriel Kney in 1973. It is one of only two tracker instruments in Mt. Pleasant, the other being a studio organ at Central Michigan University, also built by Gabriel Kney. The organ has 2 manuals and 16 stops. (For specifications consult Gabriel Kney's website here.)
Our Choral Scholars
The Choral Scholar ministry at St. John's is our primary outreach to the Central Michigan University community. This year, four students from the School of Music are singing in our choir with our "volunteers" - we love them, we embrace them, and they, too, become part of our community.
David Klak – a recent graduate of Mt Pleasant High School, now double-majoring in Music Theatre and Vocal Performance. David was a member of the High School Choirs all four years of high school – where he met our Choirmaster, Chase Simpson, in his senior year. “Chase has given me so many special opportunities – thanks to him, I’m now a Choral Scholar here at St. John’s!”
Victoria Offutt – a Mezzo-Soprano from Chicago – currently studies vocal performance under Professor Tracy Watson. Victoria will present her junior recital in the Spring.
From Hunter Shuur, Tenor: “I am a senior at Central Michigan University majoring in Music Education. Originally from Dowagiac, Michigan I’m excited to be finishing up my undergrad on campus before going home for student teaching. I’m back at St. John's for my 2nd year as a choral scholar and am ready for the best one yet. I came to St. John's two and half years ago to sing for Holy Week, fell in love with the parish, and the rest is history!”
Elena Zelinko, our Soprano, a returning sophomore at Central, studying under Tracy Watson. Elena is classically trained, but performs many genres including musical theatre and jazz. She’s been part of many choirs through the years, and found her passion for singing in seventh grade – she’ll be in The Mikado this spring.
Dr. Mary Lou Nowicki, Organist, began her music education at the age of 5 when she started piano lessons. At the age of 14 she began organ lessons. Her instruction in music continued throughout high school and college. She received a Bachelor of Music in Organ from Lawrence University (Appleton, Wisconsin), a Master of Music in Organ from The University of Alabama, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ from The University of Michigan. She taught at Central Michigan University (Mt. Pleasant, Michigan)where she developed the first organ studio and curriculum and later became Chairman of the organ department at The University of Kansas. She has concertized in Europe, Canada, and widely across the United States. She is a co-arranger of an organ score to Handel's Messiah, published by G. Schirmer.She has been a musician at St. John's for over 40 years.
Dr. Moonyeen Albrecht, Organist, began her church music career at the age of 13 when she joined her parish church choir and began organ lessons. She has a Bachelor of Music Education Degree with an Organ Concentration from Mundelein College (Chicago) and Master of Music in Theory and Composition and Doctor of Music in Composition from Northwestern University (Evanston.) She is Professor Emerita from Central Michigan University where she taught theory, counterpoint and composition for 37 years. She has composed many anthems and service music for parish choir use and her "Four Psalms for Flute and Organ" (Concordia) and "Variations on 'Engelberg' " for organ (Selah) have been broadcast on the NPR program "Pipedreams" on several occasions. She is also the owner of her small stained glass business "Visions in Glass."
Chase Simpson, Choirmaster
Gabriel Kney, Organ Builder, grew up in the city of Speyer-am-Rhein in Germany where he apprenticed with master organ builder Paul Seattle. In 1951 he immigrated to Canada. In 1955, in London, Ontario, he started his own business of building organs, retiring in 1996.
At the time of the Tracker Organ Revival in America, in the late 1950s, he was the first Canadian organ builder to again build mechanical (tracker) action organs. St. John's Opus 65 is an outstanding example of the visual and tonal character of his instruments.
Our Organ: St. John's organ (pictured above), Op. 65, was built by the internationally-known Canadian organ builder, Gabriel Kney in 1973. It is one of only two tracker instruments in Mt. Pleasant, the other being a studio organ at Central Michigan University, also built by Gabriel Kney. The organ has 2 manuals and 16 stops. (For specifications consult Gabriel Kney's website here.)
Our Choral Scholars
The Choral Scholar ministry at St. John's is our primary outreach to the Central Michigan University community. This year, four students from the School of Music are singing in our choir with our "volunteers" - we love them, we embrace them, and they, too, become part of our community.
David Klak – a recent graduate of Mt Pleasant High School, now double-majoring in Music Theatre and Vocal Performance. David was a member of the High School Choirs all four years of high school – where he met our Choirmaster, Chase Simpson, in his senior year. “Chase has given me so many special opportunities – thanks to him, I’m now a Choral Scholar here at St. John’s!”
Victoria Offutt – a Mezzo-Soprano from Chicago – currently studies vocal performance under Professor Tracy Watson. Victoria will present her junior recital in the Spring.
From Hunter Shuur, Tenor: “I am a senior at Central Michigan University majoring in Music Education. Originally from Dowagiac, Michigan I’m excited to be finishing up my undergrad on campus before going home for student teaching. I’m back at St. John's for my 2nd year as a choral scholar and am ready for the best one yet. I came to St. John's two and half years ago to sing for Holy Week, fell in love with the parish, and the rest is history!”
Elena Zelinko, our Soprano, a returning sophomore at Central, studying under Tracy Watson. Elena is classically trained, but performs many genres including musical theatre and jazz. She’s been part of many choirs through the years, and found her passion for singing in seventh grade – she’ll be in The Mikado this spring.