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.

Thomas Marvil is Cathedral Organist for Christ Church Cathedral. Prior to this appointment, he served as Associate Director of Music at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Houston, TX. He was previously Assistant Director of Music at St. Anne Catholic Church, Houston. He also previously served as Organ Scholar at the Cathedral during his graduate studies. An active local artist, Marvil has played frequently for productions at the Houston Grand Opera, appeared in concert with the Houston Chamber Choir, and performed recitals at Houston churches including the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and First Lutheran Church. He holds a MM degree from the University of Houston, where he studied organ with Daryl Robinson and choral conducting with Betsy Cook Weber, and a BM degree from Westminster Choir College, where he studied organ with Alan Morrison and Matthew Lewis.