Music

While many churches become recognized for their choir, St. John’s has developed the reputation as the “church of the soloist.”  This is due to the fact that our organist and music director, William Glazier, is a well-known and respected coach and voice teacher.  Mr. Glazier has collaborated with many world-renowned opera singers over his long career. 

From the early 1970’s, when famed mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade could be heard in concert here, until the present day, St. John’s has been blessed with great vocal talent.

 Both Messrs. Glazier and  Reid (our cantor) came to St. John’s as teenagers in October 1967.  This year  (2007) they will celebrate their 40^th anniversary. 

WILLIAM GLAZIER (Organist and Music Director) 

At the encouragement of the great Russian pianist Nadia  Reisenberg, William Glazier came to New York to continue his piano studies at the Mannes College of Music.  After years of intensive study with Madame Reisenberg and later with Arminda  Canteros, his interest in vocal literature and linguistics led him to acquire a degree in Italian Literature and Linguistics at Hunter College.  Further coaching with John Wustman, Jennie  Tourel and Carolina Segrera solidified his  pursuit of a career in vocal  coaching.  Mr. Glazier is presently continuing his piano studies with famed pianist, Ruth Slenczynska. His highly successful career as coach and pianist has taken him to most of America’s major cities in the Columbia Artist Community Concert series and throughout Europe on several occasions.   With the late American soprano, Anna Moffo, he toured Egypt, Greece and Italy.  He has made frequent appearances on nationwide television with Leona Mitchell (Good Morning America, Dick Cavett Show) Brenda Boozer (Merv Griffin) and on RAI television with Luciano Pavarotti. 

Mr. Glazier is the son of an Episcopal minister and was the organist of his father’s church at the age of 13.  In addition to being organist and director of music here, Mr. Glazier maintains a coaching studio here in the City.  He has collaborated with such artists as Frederica von Stade, Anna Moffo, James Mc Cracken, Luciano Pavarotti, Richard Tucker, Leona Mitchell, Rita Shane, Brenda Boozer and non-operatic luminaries Madeline Kahn and Jane Olivor.

GEORGE A. REID– Bass  (Cantor) 

For 40 years now Mr. Reid has served as the cantor for St. John’s whenever his busy schedule permitted.   Mr. Reid has captured the attention of opera audiences and  critics throughout the United States and Europe.   After a performance in Faust, the Chicago Sun Times described him as “a Mephistopheles filled with suave villainy and blessed  with a robust bass voice, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune has called his characterization of the role “compelling at all times” and his singing “elegantly styled.”   In a joint recital with mezzo-soprano, Frederica von  Stade, the New York Times wrote:  “a beautiful bass voice - fresh, smooth and supple.”

Mr. Reid has performed as soloist with many leading orchestras and conductors, including Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic, in which he sang Sarastro in the Magic Flute in a performance televised nationwide. Most recently he was the bass soloist in Handel’s Messiah in Carnegie Hall. 

Mr. Reid has sung in most of the regional opera companies throughout the United States and he made  his European opera debut with the Nice Opera in Berlioz’ Les Troyens.

Mr. Reid has received many awards including a winner in the International Viotti Competition in Italy and also was the youngest bass to have ever won the Metropolitan Opera auditions.  Mr. Reid is a graduate of Mannes College of Music where he received his degrees in Voice and Opera.

 THE SOLO VOICES OF ST JOHN’S 

KARYN STEWART  - Soprano

 Karyn Stewart, is a versatile lyric soprano.  Her voice was described in a Chicago Tribune review as a “...lush soprano clear and vibrant, the top notes ringing and powerful.” 

Karyn, a native of the Midwest, enjoys a career that includes Opera, Oratorio and Chamber Music.  Ms. Stewart made her Carnegie Hall Debut in the role of Die Aufseherin in Elektra with the Chicago Symphony under Maestro Daniel Barenboim.  Other appearances with the Chicago Symphony include the Bruckner Psalm 150 with Daniel Barenboim at Orchestra Hall.  Karyn made her European debut touring Spain as a soloist in the Mozart Requiem with the American Festival Orchestra.  Highlights of her work with regional symphony orchestras and choral societies include works such as Ein Deutsches Requiem, The Messiah, The Creation, St. John Passion, Mahler Symphony No. 4 and Carmina Burana.  Many of her performances have been broadcast over classical music radio stations throughout the Midwest. 

Equally at home on the opera stage, Ms. Stewart has sung many of opera’s heroines with regional companies in New York and the Midwest.  Her opera roles include, Masha in The Seagull, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Fraulein Silberklang in Der Schauspieldirektor, Mimi in La Boheme, Gilda in Rigoletto and Violetta in La Traviata.

 Ms. Stewart holds a Master's Degree in Voice and Opera Performance from Northwestern University.

MARLENE PAUL  - mezzo-soprano

 Marlene  Paul has had an international career having performed under the baton of great conductors such as Maestros Sawallish, Patane and Henze.  She was a soloist with the Bavarian Staatsopera and the Dusseldorf Opera (Germany).   Her engagements in Europe also took her to Italy where she performed the roles of Adalgisa (Norma), Siebel (Faust) and Dorabella (Cosi Fan Tutti) in Rome, Siena, Perugia and Florence. While in Europe she studied voice with the famous soprano, Astrid Varney.  In addition to performing opera in the United States, she has appeared in many orchestral and concert works –King David (Honegger),  Seven Last Words (Schutz), Stabat Mater (Schubert), Messiah (Handel), and most recently the soloist in the Mass in C Major (Beethoven) here in Carnegie Hall as well as the soloist in the Requiem (Verdi) with the New York Choral Society.

Ms. Paul has a Master’s Degree in Voice from Northwestern University and continued studies at the Juilliard School of Music.

JOSEPH ADDEO - tenor

“Thrilling with his vocal agility” wrote a New York City critic after hearing Joseph Addeo sing.  Mr. Addeo possesses a full lyric tenor that shines in opera, orchestral and song literature.  He performs leading tenor roles in most of the standard operatic repertoire including La Bohème, Cavalleria Rusticana, Lucia di Lammermoor, Rigoletto, Tosca, Carmen, Die Fledermaus, Martha, La Traviata, Madama Butterfly and Don Giovanni.   His operatic debut was made in 1991 as Don José in Carmen with Lake George Opera and soon thereafter he sang Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana with Maestro Anton Coppola at Metro Lyric Opera.  Other companies where Mr. Addeo has been heard include Sarasota Opera, New York Grand Opera, Treasure Coast Opera, Metro Lyric Opera of New Jersey, Opera of the Hamptons, Liederkranz Opera Theater and Regina Opera.  In 1993 he made his European debut with the Rome Festival Opera when he sang Ferrando in Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte. 

In addition to his operatic engagements Mr. Addeo is a frequent guest soloist with orchestras and music festivals including the Staten Island Symphony, the Bronx Arts Ensemble, Festival of the Atlantic, Long Island Summer Stage and Harry Chapin Theater.  Mr. Addeo’s love of Italian music is also heard at Italian music festivals and galas throughout the country.  On the “high seas” Mr. Addeo was invited to be the first singer on board to entertain for the premier cruise of The World which was publicized in The New York Times.  He was the tenor lead in the world premier of Robert Mitchell’s opera La Tristezza performed with Golden Fleece Opera in New York during the 2006 Season.  When not on the classical stage Mr. Addeo’s versatility extends to musical theater as well straight drama.  He has been in productions such as South Pacific, The Student Prince, The Mousetrap, A Flea in Her Ear and Kismet.

A native New Yorker, Mr. Addeo holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York.  He also pursued studies at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, London Academy of Music and
Dramatic Art and at the Guildhall School of Music.  Recently and by popular demand, Musicians Showcase has released a CD of his entitled Le Favolose Canzoni di Napoli where he is heard singing the popular and beloved
songs of Naples.  Mr. Addeo feels a special closeness to these songs because it is the music of his heritage and his warm, Italian tenor naturally shines in this repertoire.  His website is www.josephaddeo.com.

OUR ORGAN

In 1961, Austin Organs, Inc. installed a new organ in the gallery, incorporating several imported ranks provided by the organist. The previous Skinner cases were retained, but the facade pipes were replaced by grill cloth. The Hauptwerk, which includes an enclosed section, is installed in the former Skinner case on the west side, while the Positiv chest is mounted on the rear wall above the choir.  For a more thorough look at the organ's features, check out the detailed information supplied on the American Guild of Organists - New York Chapter's detailed page here.

Send mail to ashknitcas@aol.com with questions or comments about this web site.