Christina Scott Edelen
Hailed as a “superb harpsichordist” by the Kansas City Star, Christina Scott Edelen brings a depth of experience, knowledge, and virtuosity to keyboard performance and teaching. On organ, harpsichord, clavichord, and fortepiano, Christina has performed as soloist and in numerous ensembles, concert series and festivals, including the Early Music Festivals of Bloomington, Berkeley, and Boston, and the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra. She studied at the Indiana University Early Music Institute and the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, and was a finalist at the Bodky International Competition. Christina is a popular teacher and lecturer, and has served on the faculties of Baylor University and the University of Houston. She holds a PhD in 17th century English Musical philosophy, and has published articles in both the US and Sweden. Recordings include An Early Keyboard Sampler, Early English Organ Concertos, and the Sonatas for Flute and Harpsichord by Boismortier. Before recently moving to Maine, Christina was organist and choirmaster at the Anglican Church in The Hague, the Netherlands.
For more on Christina, visit her website.
Christian Clough
Christian M. Clough, B.A., M.M., M.A.R., has been active as a choral conductor, singer and keyboardist for over three decades. A two-time student of the Yale Institute of Sacred Music (ISM), he holds the Master of Music degree, with a double concentration in Organ Performance and Choral Conducting, from the Yale University School of Music, where his principal teachers were Marguerite Brooks (Choral Conducting), and Thomas Murray (Organ). He was a conducting fellow of the late Sir David Willcocks at the Ogontz Festival, summer 1996. He spent a year of further organ study, primarily with Anne Marsden Thomas, in London, England, and later returned to Yale University Divinity School (and ISM) for the Master of Arts in Religion (Liturgical Studies concentration), which he received, magna cum laude, in 2003. He has also studied vocal performance and organ improvisation.
The primary focus of his work has been in the Episcopal Church, where, in addition to the typical weekly duties of an organist and conductor, he has also led choirs of adults and children in cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach and Johann Pachelbel; the Requiem masses of Fauré and Duruflé; and choral masses by composers as diverse as Palestrina, Handel, Josef Rheinberger, Arvo Pärt, and Jonathan Dove, the North American—and worldwide liturgical—premiere of whose Koethener Messe, based on themes from works by Johann Sebastian Bach, he conducted at the Church of the Epiphany in Washington, DC. Outside his church work, Christian also has experience with community choral ensembles and musical theater, and as a keyboard instructor. In 2022, Christian sang in the first-ever international amateur choir sponsored by BachFest Leipzig, performing two Bach cantatas under the baton of Ton Koopman. He was appointed Canon for Liturgy & Music for St. Luke’s Cathedral, Portland, Maine, beginning in August 2022, where he oversees a lively music program of varied offerings for the in-house congregation, the Episcopal Diocese of Maine and the greater Portland community. Prior to his appointment at St. Luke’s, he served Episcopal congregations around the USA, most recently over a decade at St. Paul & the Redeemer Episcopal Church, Hyde Park, Chicago, IL.
Christian grew up in Central, NY, where family, friends, and natural beauty continue to draw him back for frequent visits. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, traveling, photography, birdwatching, weaving, writing, studying foreign languages, and the pursuit of a variety of outdoor activities. He is particularly interested in the communal life, worship, and music of the Shakers, and is associated with the still-active Shaker community at Sabbathday Lake, north of Grey, Maine. He and his husband Christopher Worthley, who grew up in Kennebunk, reside in South Portland with their rescued chocolate Cocker Spaniel, Dakota.
For more on Chrisitan, please visit.
Hentus Van Rooyen
Dr. Hentus van Rooyen, a native of South Africa, is the Director of Music Ministries and Organist at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Cape Elizabeth, ME, and teaches Organ Performance at Bowdoin College. He holds the degrees Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music in organ performance from the University of North Texas. His other degrees in organ performance, pedagogy, and church music were completed at the University of Pretoria and University of South Africa. He studied organ performance with Jesse Eschbach and Wim Viljoen, and baroque repertoire studies with Paul Leenhouts. Before coming to Maine, Hentus served as Assistant Professor of Music, Sacred Music Coordinator and College Organist at Bethany College in Lindsborg KS. He concurrently served as the Director of Music and Organist at Christ Episcopal Cathedral in Salina, KS.
For more on Hentus, visit his website.
James Kennerley
Hailed as “a great organist” displaying “phenomenal technique and sheer musicality” (Bloomberg News), James Kennerley is a multi-faceted artist, working as a conductor, keyboardist, vocalist, composer, and leadership consultant. His performances are known for their illustrious flair and thrilling virtuosity, subtlety and finesse. James’ YouTube performances have enjoyed worldwide popularity and millions of views globally.
Mr. Kennerley was appointed the Municipal Organist of Portland, Maine, in 2017, forming part of a lineage of distinctive concert organists going back to 1912. Together with the Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ, the Municipal Organist position is one of the most prominent and significant for the promotion of the organ, its music, and the many educational and outreach opportunities it enables. In 2020, James initiated the Backstage Pipes organ tour program, which introduces hundreds of newcomers to the pipe organ each year.
In 2023 James was named Minister of Music at the historic Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church in Falmouth, Maine, where he directs the choir, performs on the fine Casavant pipe organ, and continues to make the church a focus for musical performances throughout the year. Previously, he was Director of Music at Saint Paul’s Church and Choir School in Harvard Square, Cambridge MA, directing the choir of boy choristers and professional men in daily performances, regular concert tours, recordings, and broadcasts.
For more on James, visit his website