Around the Diocese posted Tuesday, November 15, 2011
New Organist and Choir Director Appointed
The Reverend Roy Almquist, Rector of Washington Memorial Chapel, has appointed Michael Wayne Smith as the new parish Organist and Choir Director. Mr. Smith played the organ and conducted the choir at his first mass at the Chapel on Sunday, November 6th.
Mr. Smith recently moved from Massachusetts to assume the position of Director of Music at the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr. Raised in the South, he was awarded a Bachelor of Music degree at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He then attended Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut where he received a Master of Music degree. During his studies at Yale, Mr. Smith was an assistant conductor of the Yale Glee Club, organist at the Marquand Chapel at the Yale Divinity School, while serving as organist and choir director of several New Haven area Episcopal parishes. After graduating from Yale, Mr. Smith was appointed as Organist and Director of Choir Music at the Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts. During his tenure at Groton, he was appointed to the Harold I. Pratt Chair of Music and awarded the Faculty Prize for Excellence in Teaching.
Mr. Smith is a member of the American Guild of Organists and the Association of Anglican Musicians.
Submission by Pat Martin, Office Manager & Wedding Coordinator, Washington Memorial Chapel
