by Dale Adelmann, Canon for Music
Then let the pealing organ blow
To the full-voiced quire below,
In Service high and anthem clear,
As may with sweetness through mine ear
Dissolve me in ecstasies
And bring all heaven before mine eyes.
from Il Penseroso, John Milton (1608-1674)
The Cathedral of St. Philip is incredibly fortunate to possess one of North America’s great, historic Aeolian-Skinner organs. Yet our organ is only able to inspire us due to the succession of magnificent organists the Cathedral continues to attract, who bring the organ to life week by week by playing it with such extraordinary mastery.
Our artist-in-residence, Herbert Buffington, has blessed us richly for the past twenty months, and we will very much miss him as he now segues into retirement. Having grown up at the Cathedral, Herb’s presence here brought him full circle. And what a privilege it has been to worship with him, inspired by his magnificent skills in organ improvisation, repertoire, and service playing! August 31 will be his last official Sunday on the bench, but we are delighted that his next chapter will continue to include us, on the Friends of Cathedral Music Board. Please join me in expressing our deep gratitude to Herb!
A large share of the organ playing duties which that post has filled – combined with the additional opportunity to be educationally immersed in the broad spectrum of a large music ministry – will be taken on by Nolan Anthony. He will join us full time in mid-August as Organ/Church Music Intern for the 2025-2026 program year. Nolan is a native of Hendersonville, South Carolina and holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in organ performance from Furman University and the North Carolina School of the Arts, respectively. Please also join me in welcoming Nolan!
Lastly, it deserves high honorable mention here – and parishioners will be proud to know – that Chase Loomer, our full-time Organist & Associate Choirmaster, recently traveled to the UK having been invited to play as a quarter-finalist in the St. Albans International Organ Improvisation Competition. This is one of the most prestigious events of this kind in the organ world, and being nominated at all is a great honor! This summer Chase was also added to the roster of Phillip Truckenbrod Concert Artists, one of North America’s premier artist management agencies for organists. Like Bruce Neswick, Patrick Scott, Jack Mitchener, and Caroline Robinson before him, having such representation will allow Chase occasionally to share his gifts with the much wider Church and world, while still ministering fully at the Cathedral of St. Philip.
How fortunate we are to be the beneficiaries of such talent!