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.

Cathedral Organist Valentina Huang is a remarkably talented musician with a warm and enthusiastic personality. She will be an enormous addition to the Cathedral Music Ministry and the entire Parish. Commenting on her appointment Valentina says, “I am grateful for the opportunity of serving here. I also look forward to meeting everyone and bringing music and joy to the Cathedral.” She began her appointment to Christ Church Cathedral on September 1.

Born in China, Valentina came to the United States in 2016 to attend Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. She then earned a degree in piano at Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins and a Master’s in Organ Performance at Indiana University. While in Bloomington she met and married Tanner Ellis, a graduate of the IU law school. Valentina and Tanner came to Houston in order for her to enter the doctoral program in organ at The Shepherd School of Music where she is about to start her second year as a student of Professor Ken Cowan.

Valentina is already making a name for herself as a concert organist with first place wins at the prestigious Fort Wayne competition in Indiana, and the Arthur Poister Competition at Syracuse University where she also won the Audience Prize. In a small world moment, former Cathedral Organist Monica Czausz Berney was a judge at that competition. Valentina comes to us after serving as Assistant Organist at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church.