Edward E. Jones
Edward Elwyn Jones is the Gund University Organist and Choirmaster in the Memorial Church. A native of Wales, Mr. Jones studied music at Cambridge University, where he was Organ Scholar of Emmanuel College. He moved to the United States in 1998, serving firstly as Organ Scholar and then as Assistant Organist in The Memorial Church at Harvard. From 2000 to 2003 Mr. Jones was the Assistant Organist of Christ Church United Methodist on Park Avenue in New York City, while pursuing a master’s degree in orchestral conducting at The Mannes College of Music. Mr. Jones joins a long line of distinguished choirmasters including the first professor of music in the United States, John Knowles Paine; the legendary founder of the nation’s oldest carol service, Archibald T. Davison; the creator of the modern coeducational University Choir, John R. Ferris; and, the builder of the Choral Fellows program, Murray Forbes Somerville. Contact: 617-496-3192 or edward_jones@harvard.edu
Christian Lane
Christian Lane is Associate University Organist and Choirmaster at Harvard University, where he play for services in the Memorial Church, teaches Harvard organ students, and serves as Resident Scholar in Lowell House. Mr. Lane quickly established himself as one of the country’s most accomplished young organists by earning first prize in four major American organ competitions before reaching his twenty-first birthday; he went on to earn First Prize in the 2011 Canadian International Organ Competition, one of the world’s foremost contests. He holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Yale University and has served several notable churches, including Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York City. Mr. Lane performs regularly throughout the United States and Canada (represented by Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc.), records regularly as both soloist and accompanist, and serves the American Guild of Organists as National Councilor for Competition and New Music. Contact: 617-495-8597 or christian_lane@harvard.edu
Carson P. Cooman
Carson Cooman is Research Associate in Music and Composer in Residence at the Memorial Church. As a composer, Cooman has produced a catalog of hundreds of works in many forms—ranging from solo instrumental pieces to operas, and from orchestral works to hymn tunes. His music has been performed on all six inhabited continents and appears on over forty recordings, including seventeen complete CDs on the Naxos, Albany, Artek, Gothic, Altarus, MSR Classics, Raven, and Zimbel labels. Cooman's primary composition studies were with Bernard Rands, Judith Weir, Alan Fletcher, and James Willey, and he holds degrees from Harvard University and Carnegie Mellon University. As an active concert organist, Cooman specializes in the performance of contemporary music. Over 130 new works have been composed for him by composers from around the world, and his organ performances can be heard on a number of CD recordings.Contact: 617-496-9425 or carson_cooman@harvard.edu