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Michael Diorio
Organist/Director of Music
610-525-2486 ext. 22
mdiorio@theredeemer.org
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As an active recitalist, Dr. Diorio has performed extensively throughout the United States as well as in England, Germany, France, and Austria where he was presented with a citation by the Mayor of Innsbruck for an outstanding public performance at the Jesuiten Kirche. Recent playing engagements include the Strasbourg Cathedral in France, Salisbury Cathedral, Wells Cathedral and Chichester Cathedral; other concerts with the American Boy Choir, and the National Convention of the Organ Historical Society.
A New Jersey native, Michael Diorio received his Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, while studying under Professor Eugene Roan. Upon completing his undergraduate study he entered the Institute of Sacred Music and the School of Music at Yale University, where he earned his Master of Music degree in organ with Dr. Martin Jean. While at Boston University Dr. Diorio was a pupil of organist James David Christie, where he received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ performance, summa cum laude. His edition of the Messa Hyemalis in A of Franz Xaver Richter (1709-1789) is published by the German firm Carus-Verlag of Stuttgart. The edition received its American premier at St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue by John Scott and the St. Thomas Choir of Men & Boys, and its European premier at the Strasbourg Cathedral in France, where Richter served as Kapellmeister from 1768-1789.
Presently, Michael serves as Organist & Director of Music at Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr where he oversees a comprehensive choral and music program. Michael also serves as a full-time faculty member at The Shipley School (Bryn Mawr), where he is Director of Choral Activities and music teacher for the Upper School. Previous positions include Washington Memorial Chapel, Valley Forge, and the Episcopal Cathedral of New Jersey, in Trenton. For five years Michael served at The Lawrenceville School, where he taught classes, private instrumental lessons and served as the school organist.
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Michael Stairs
Organist Emeritus
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Michael Stairs was born in Milo, Maine and began early piano studies in Presque Isle. He spent his high school years in Erie, Pennsylvania where he studied piano with Frederic Chromis and held concurrent church and synagogue positions. Michael then attended Westminster Choir College in Princeton, where he first encountered Dr. Alexander McCurdy and became his student for three years. He then went on to study at the Curtis Institute of Music on Rittenhouse Square, studying with Alexander McCurdy for another four years.
Michael enjoyed serving the Church of St. Asaph in Bala-Cynwyd for thirteen years and the Church of the Redeemer in Bryn Mawr for twenty-five. Though he is Emeritus at Redeemer, he continues to teach four levels of music theory at The Haverford School, where there seems to be an endless supply of very talented young men. The fifty voice Glee Club performed the Mozart Requiem last season with girls from the Agnes Irwin, Baldwin and Brearley Schools. His select vocal ensemble, The Notables, completed a successful concert tour of Copenhagen and Stockholm in June 2010.
Ricardo Muti appointed Mr. Stairs to be the organist for The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1985, and this has led to solo performances in Carnegie Hall and Suntory Hall (Tokyo). As a member of The Philadelphia Organ Quartet, this group appeared last year to packed houses in Dallas and Ocean City NJ. Solo organ concert concerts and church organ dedications over these past two years include Guilford CT, Pompano Beach FL, Boone IA, Lake Worth FL, Belle Meade NJ, Miami Springs FL, and Cocoa Beach FL.
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Katy Gentry
Cherub Choir Director
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Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, soprano Katy Gentry completed her undergraduate studies at Haverford College in 2005. At Haverford, Katy sang multiple solos with the Haverford College Chorale and orchestra under the direction of Thomas Lloyd. Works included Bach’s B Minor Mass, Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, and Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem. Katy graduated with a BA in Music as well as a minor in Educational Studies. At Temple University, Katy recently completed her M.M. in Voice Performance as well as a Professional Studies Certificate under the instruction of Dr. Christine Anderson. While at Temple, Katy produced, directed, and sang the title role in Carlisle Floyd's Susannah and performed the roles of the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro, Mrs. Gobineau in The Medium, Semele in Cavalli's L'Egisto, and La Bergere in L'Enfant et les sortileges. Other favorite roles have included Mimi in La Bohème, the title role in Suor Angelica, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, and Micaela in Carmen.
Katy has been involved with the Choirs at Church of the Redeemer since the fall of 2005, first by teaching voice lessons to members of the choir and later by becoming a soprano section leader. In 2008, Katy became the administrative assistant to the music director, and in 2009, Katy directed the Cherub Choir, the Redeemer's newest choir for beginning singers.
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Gillian Lancaster
Administrative Assistant
to the Music Director
610-525-2486 ext. 22
music@theredeemer.org
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Gillian has been working at Church of the Redeemer since July 2009. Originally trained as a classroom music teacher, she taught in England for several years. She arrived in America in July 1988 with her family, and lived on the Gulf Coast of Florida where they reveled in playing on the white sandy beaches and eating Southern food. They moved to New Jersey in 1993, and after working for the Girl Scouts for several years, Gillian worked in the Music Department and sang at Trinity Church, Princeton.
Gillian moved to the Philadelphia area in 2004 to attend the University of Pennsylvania for her Masters Degree and graphic design qualification. While doing so she worked part time at Philadelphia Cathedral, created many service leaflets and maintained the website.
After graduating in 2007 she began building her graphic design business, Gillian Lancaster Design, and in the process of looking for new clients, was offered the position of Program Assistant at Church of the Redeemer. Here she creates service leaflets, maintains the Redeemer Bryn Mawr Facebook page, and liaises with families for baptisms, funerals and weddings. She also works with Michael Diorio to keep the music library cataloged and maintained.
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