News from the Nominating Committee for the Board of the North Shore Chapter AGO
Julia Brueck, Chair
Morgan Simmons
Robert Woodworth
John Bryant works as a technician for the Bradford Organ Co., Skokie and is organist of Kenilworth Union Church, Kenilworth.
Steven Weyand Folkers has served as Director of Music at St. Lambert Roman Catholic Church in Skokie since 1988. He studied organ at the Parish Church of St. Luke (Episcopal) in Evanston under Robert Delcamp and Richard Webster, and at Northwestern University in Evanston under Richard Enright and Grigg Fountain. Folkers earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Administration, summa cum laude, at Loyola University in Chicago. He has previously served the NSAGO as an Executive Board Member, and is current Chapter Archivist.
Bryan McGookey is currently the Music Director at the Morton Grove Community Church, where he has worked since October 2010. As the Music Director, Bryan acts as the church organist, conducts the church choir, and has very recently started a bell choir. In addition to his career in church music, Bryan is passionate about teaching and is currently on the staff of Piano Lessons in Your Home. Prior to moving to Chicago, Bryan earned a degree in Piano Pedagogy with Church Music Emphasis from Capital University in Bexley, Ohio. While at Capital, he studied organ with acclaimed organist and arranger Janet Linker and piano with Dr. Tianshu Wang. Bryan was also a four-year member of the prestigious Capital University Chapel Choir, directed by Dr. Lynda Hasseler. A member of the North Shore AGO since 2012, Bryan looks forward to becoming more involved in the chapter.
Pianist for the Chicago Symphony Chorus since 1978, Sharon R. Peterson is also Accompanist for the CSC as well as at Northwestern University, North Park University, and the North Shore Choral Society. She has served as accompanist for several years for Chicago Symphony Singers and CSC’s resident ensembles. During the seven years spent living in Sweden and Norway, Sharon developed a specialty in Scandinavian Piano Repertoire as well as serving as staff accompanist at The Royal Academy of Music in Oslo, Norway. Studying with Elizabeth Buccheri at North Park College (BM degree) and Robert Weirich at Northwestern University (MM degree), Sharon has also accompanied the Lyric Opera [of Chicago] Chorus for several seasons, served as Ballet Accompanist for Lyric’s production of La Clemenza di Tito, been Music Director twice of the Lyric Opera’s “Opera In the Neighborhood” touring production of The Magic Flute, served as staff accompanist at Roosevelt University, pianist for Candle Opera, and accompanist in the studios of soprano Maria Lagios and saxophonist Frederick Hemke. Sharon toured Hawaii with singers Kathleen and Peter van de Graaff and performs with them regularly. Active as a piano and organ recitalist, saxophone accompanist, Swedish and Norwegian language coach and vocal coach, Sharon is also organist at North Park Theological Seminary.
James Brian Smith began his formal music training on the piano at the age of eight. By age eleven, Smith held his first position as church organist. While in high school, he studied organ and performed at Duquesne University as a part of D.U.E.T. (Duquesne University Extension Training). He entered Northwestern University in 1985 and by 1990 graduated with degrees in Church Music & Organ, Music Education, and Organ Performance. While at Northwestern, Smith was awarded the William H. Barnes Graduate Scholarship and won the concerto competition performing the Poulenc Organ Concerto with the University Orchestra. From 1988-2001, Smith was the Director of Music at Saint Wenceslaus Parish in Chicago, where he founded and maintained a professional music staff consisting of cantors, the Schola Gregoriana, Cantores In Ecclesia, as well as instrumentalists. In addition, Smith founded and maintained a local and international concert series at the church, including such artists as King’s College, Cambridge; Christ Church, Oxford; The Anonymous 4, and many American Choirs. Since 1990, Smith teaches music in the Evanston public school district and directs a children’s choir of 80+ voices. In 1997, Smith served as the founding Artistic Director of the non-profit Chicago Boy Choir, a position that he maintains today. Before being appointed Director of Music/Organist of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Techny (2003), Smith served as an assistant organist at Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago. He has concertized extensively in the Chicagoland area, Pittsburgh area and in New England. He presently maintains his teaching position and is the Director of Music/Organist at Northfield Community Church where he directs the sanctuary choir, handbell choir, and oversees the concert series.
Special Thanks
The Nominating Committee wishes to thank Menno Scholten for agreeing to fulfill the remainder of Robert Horton’s term, ending in 2016. (Robert’s resignation from the board became effective in January, upon his relocation to Duke University as the Interim Chapel Organist). Menno originally committed to one year on the board, and has been a wonderful asset these past several months. We look forward to his continued service.