Monday, August 5, 2024
Dear People of St. David’s,
In July of 2024 I was honored and humbled to assume a new role at St. David’s as interim director of music after the retirement of Dr. Clair Rozier as director of music. I am very excited to announce that we will welcome four new part-time interim staff members to our music department for the fall of 2024: Kathy Wagner, Stephen Christner, Dr. Andrea Boudra, and Dr. Stanley Orr. These very talented individuals will fulfill many of the responsibilities previously held by the associate director of music. Here is a list of our interim music staff:
| Interim Director of Music – Dr. Elaine Sonnenberg Whitelock Dr. Elaine Sonnenberg Whitelock will oversee the planning and coordination of all the music at St. David’s, in consultation with the rector, and supervise all the music ensembles of the parish in collaboration with the music staff. Dr. Sonnenberg Whitelock will direct the Adult Choir, Youth Choir (grades 6-12), the Primary Choir (age 4-grade 1), the Wednesday Handbell Choir, and the Pageant Band (grade 6-adult). Elaine served as associate director of music at St. David’s from July of 2012 to May of 2024 and is excited to continue serving St. David’s in her new role. |  |
| Interim Associate Director of the Chorister Program – Kathy Wagner Kathy Wagner will be the director of the Children’s Choir (grades 2-5), assistant director of the Primary Choir and Youth Choir, and will regularly coordinate music for the Children’s Sermon and Godly Play. Kathy is an alto section leader in the St. David’s Adult Choir and directs our Youth and Children’s Choir musical every spring. Kathy Wagner has over 35 years of experience teaching music at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels and is currently a music teacher for the Philadelphia Academy Charter School, Philadelphia, PA. |  |
| Interim Associate Director of the Handbell Choirs – Stephen Christner Stephen Christner will be the director of the Thursday Handbell Choir and will also ring with the Wednesday Bell Choir. Stephen is currently a bass section leader in the Adult Choir and is a gifted percussionist. In addition, Stephen regularly sings with the Youth Choir, assists with our youth groups, and is a dedicated cook and server for our choir dinners. |  |
| Interim Associate Organists: | |
| Dr. Andrea Boudra will play for many of the 5 p.m. services and accompany for a number of our special services such as the All Saints’ Choral Evensong, the Lessons and Carols service, and the Christmas Eve 3 p.m. service in the Chapel. Andrea is currently the director of music and organist at St. John’s Anglican Church, Southampton, PA. Dr. Boudra earned her doctorate from Indiana University in Organ Performance and has been a music director and organist for over 20 years. |  |
| Dr. Stanley Orr will play for many of the 11:30 a.m. services, accompany the Adult Choir for Thursday rehearsals, assist with organist responsibilities for the 9:15 a.m. service, and play for our Christmas Eve services in the Church. Stan has been a dedicated substitute organist at St. David’s for almost 25 years. Dr. Orr is a dynamics engineer and flight engineer manager for the Boeing Company in Philadelphia, PA. |  |
The music department will continue to be supported by our amazing Music Administrator and Librarian, Grace Oh Kraybill.
Please join us in welcoming these four very gifted musicians to our music department for the fall of 2024!
Dr. Elaine Sonnenberg Whitelock, Interim Director of Music