Music

Christ Church Cathedral, Houston, has a long and distinguished tradition of musical excellence. Former Organist-Choirmasters include Arthur Howes (became chair of the Organ Department at Peabody Conservatory), Edward Gammons (later organist at the Groton School in Massachusetts), Jack Ossewaarde (called from the Cathedral to be Organist and Choirmaster at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, New York City) and Clyde Holloway (noted recitalist and Professor of Organ at the Shepherd School of Music, Rice University.)

Canon for Music, Robert Simpson, AAGO, ChM, SMM, has served as current Organist-Choirmaster at historic Christ Church Cathedral since 1993 and Founder and Artistic Director of the Houston Chamber Choir. He also serves on the faculty of The Shepherd School of Music, Rice University, as Lecturer of Church Music. An honors graduate of Brown University, Mr. Simpson was a student of Robert Baker at The School of Sacred Music, Union Theological Seminary, and Michael Schneider at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne, Germany. He has served as Adjunct Professor of Organ at Georgia State University and Senior Teaching Fellow at the University of Texas, Austin. Mr. Simpson earned the Associate and Choirmaster Certificates from the American Guild of Organists, receiving the S. Lewis Elmer Prize for attaining the highest test scores. He served as Vice Chair of the Standing Commission on Church Music for the Episcopal Church and on the Editorial Board of the African American hymnal Lift Every Voice and Sing II.

In 2017, Daryl Robinson joined the ministry staff of Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) as Cathedral Organist. That year he was also appointed Assistant Professor and Director of Organ Studies at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music.

Robinson holds degrees from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University; his major teachers include Robert Bates, Ken Cowan, and David Higgs. Previous positions have included Organist & Artist-in-Residence for South Main Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, and Assistant Professor of Organ at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey.

His collaborative career has included performances with the Houston Symphony and Chorus, Mercury Baroque, the Immanuel and Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival®, and serving as Collaborative Keyboard Artist for Houston’s two internationally-acclaimed choral ensembles: the Houston Chamber Choir and the University of Houston Moores School of Music Concert Chorale.

Hear Mr. Robinson's work on YouTube or on his website.