Student & Alumni News
ECU organ performance and sacred music master’s degree student Jonghee Yoon was selected by The Diapason magazine as part of the inaugural “20 under 30 – Class of 2023,” a group of “young talents in the fields of organ and harpsichord performance, organ and harpsichord building, carillon, and church music” who show “superior accomplishments, leadership, creativity, and innovative thinking.”
Yonghee Yoon, MM Organ Sacred Music, was selected as a “Rising Star” and performed with the Raleigh Symphony on May 7, 2022.
Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, and the Association of Anglican Musicians announced the appointment of ECU’s Christopher John Pharo as the recipient of the 2022-23 AAM Gerre Hancock Internship.
Jason Schodt, BM 2020, was featured in a “Pirate Profile.” To view the feature, click here
Jacob Montgomery, BM 2018, completed his MM degree at the Eastman School of Music and has begun the DMA program, also at Eastman.
Peter Morey, MM 2021, earned the Colleague Certification from the American Guild of Organists
Peter Morey, CAGO and William Endicott, CAGO were both named 2020 “E. Power Biggs Fellows” by the Organ Historical Society. Because of Covid-19, the students will transfer their fellowship to the 2021 Toronto Convention.
William Endicott, CAGO, MM 2021, was appointed organist of First Presbyterian Church in Washington, NC
Bridget Deveney, MM 2022, was appointed organist of First Baptist Church in Ahoskie, NC.
Chris Pharo has been named the Dean of the East Carolina Chapter AGO, beginning summer 2020.
Pei-Yi Ho, MM, CAGO, graduated from the MM program in 2020 and has been appointed Organist-Choirmaster at The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Danville, Virginia.
Jason Schodt was named “Outstanding Senior” for the Keyboard Department 2020.
Jacob Montgomery, BM 2018, graduated as the outstanding senior in the keyboard department, and is currently attending the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, to study for his master’s degree under Prof. David Higgs. He was the second ECU student to be appointed Organ Scholar at Duke Chapel, beginning in 2017. Jacob earned the Colleague Certification from the AGO in 2014.
Graduate student Pei-Yi Ho earned both the service playing and colleague certifications from the American Guild of Organists in 2018.
Jordan Prescott, BM organ, 2017, completed his MM degree with a full-tuition scholarship at the Peabody Conservatory of Music (Johns Hopkins) and has subsequently begun the DMA program there under Dr. John Walker. He is receiving the prestigious Dean’s Fellowship, full scholarship with stipend. He is serving Grace & St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Baltimore, MD. While enrolled at ECU, he completed two years as Organ Scholar at the Duke University Chapel. He was named one of the “E. Power Biggs Fellows” for 2015 by the Organ Historical Society.
Jon Johnson, MM 2000, finished his tenure as Organist-Choirmaster at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Lexington, KY, and has assumed a similar position as Director of Music at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in San Antonio, TX, beginning summer 2018.
Sharon Veitch, MM, CAPS, 2016 earned the Colleague Certificate from the American Guild of Organists, May 2014. Upon graduation, she was appointed organist-choirmaster at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Kinston, NC and was recently elected as a member of the Association of Anglican Musicians. She also served as Dean of the East Carolina Chapter AGO.
Ashlyn Batten, MM 2017, earned the Service Playing Certificate from the American Guild of Organists. She is the organist at First Christian Church in Robersonville, NC.
Krista (Melcher) Nixon, BM 2014, was named the 2014 E. Power Biggs Fellow by the Organ Historical Society. She is active as an organist in the Raleigh/Durham area.
Kris Rizzotto (MM 2013) earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Oklahoma University under John Schwandt. Cristiano has developed an international performing career and his YouTube channel has had over 800,000 views. He is a full-time church musician at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Minneapolis, MN.
Samantha Koch Hancock (BM 2012) was the Assistant Organist-Choirmaster at Providence United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC following graduation from ECU. She was named the 2013 “E. Power Biggs Fellow” by the Organ Historical Society. She has since completed her MM degree in both organ performance and organ technology at the University of Oklahoma American Organ Institute. She is currently employed as an organ builder for Quimby Pipe Organs in Warrensburg, MO and is the organist at Christ Episcopal Church in Warrensburg.
Virginia “Gen” Bolena (MM 2004), having been Organist/Choirmaster at Christ Church, New Bern, NC since 2007, moved to Staunton, VA where she is now the director of music at Trinity Episcopal Church. She plays the beautiful Taylor & Boody organ.
Marty Barstow (BM 2010) earned the Master of Music degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA and now serves as Director of Music at Green Acres Presbyterian Church in Portsmouth, VA.
Casey Whaley Childers (M.M. 2009), Holds the Colleague Certificate (CAGO) from the American Guild of Organists. In April of 2009, she was the first place winner of the Richard Van Sciver Scholarship in the organ division of the Metropolitan Music Ministries Competition. Casey has been active in the East Carolina Chapter AGO, and served on the East Carolina Musical Arts Education Foundation. She currently serves as Organist & Coordinator of Music Ministries at First Christian Church in Wilson, NC and maintains a regular schedule of private teaching and accompanying.
Mark Pacoe (MM ’98), is Director of Music and Organist for the Roman Catholic Parishes of the East River in Manhattan. Formerly, he served in similar capacity at St. Malachy’s Church – The Actors’ Chapel- in Times Square. Mark has performed as soloist and accompanist domestically and abroad including Oriental Arts Centre in Shanghai, the Sydney Opera House, Konzerthaus in Vienna (International Haydn Festival), St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC.
David Jernigan (BM and CAPS) graduated from ECU and went directly to Yale University for his graduate studies. He was the organist at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New Haven, CT, before returning to North Carolina to become director of music at Christ Church on Capitol Square in Raleigh. He runs a large music program and recently founded the Raleigh Bach Soloists, a professional ensemble.
Michael Douglas Boney (BM, 1997 and MM 2002) is the Director of Music at the Cathedral of St. John in the Wilderness, Denver, Colorado. He formerly served as the Choirmaster/Organist of St. Michael’s Cathedral (Episcopal) in Boise, Idaho. and Organist-Choirmaster at Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Jackie Copeland (Masters in Church Music/Organ,1999) is currently the Organist/Pianist for The Albemarle Chorale and a Music Teacher for Elizabeth City/Pasquotank Public Schools. Copeland was the Teacher of the Year for Central Elementary School in 2002.
James H. (Buddy) Hyatt, III (Bachelor of Music Education, organ 2006) received the American Guild of Organist’s Service Playing Certificate in June 2004 and received the ECU Student Government Association’s Outstanding Senior Award for Music Education in May 2006.
Julie Anne Lechner Florin (MM, 1996) holds the AGO Service Playing Certificate and currently serves as the Director of Worship and Music, Grace Community Church of Raleigh. Florin is also the Secretary of the CNCC AGO as well as the musical director of the NCSU, Meredith College, and Raleigh Little theatres.
Jennifer and Joel Gay (MM, Sacred Music, organ, 2004) are Directors of Music Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Wilson, NC. Jennifer was the First-Place Winner for the Metropolitan Music Ministries Scholarship and National First-Place Winner of the MTNA Young Artist Organ Competition in 2004.
Michael Howe (BM, Organ Performance, 1971) is the Director of Music & Organist, Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Southern Pines, NC.