Music
Meet Ned Tipton, Director of Music Ministries
Dear People of St. Mark’s:
I am deeply delighted and excited to announce that we have called Ned Tipton to be our new Director of Music Ministry. Ned is thrilled and so are all of us who have met him.
We searched far and wide, twice. In the end, the Search Committee reviewed 126 applications; conducted 18 online Zoom interviews; welcomed seven candidates to St. Mark’s for extensive interviews—leading a choir rehearsal, playing the organ, sharing several meals, and touring the town. We closed the search. Then God’s providence literally brought Ned through our door. He was guest organist for the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra’s Armistice Day concert, which was held at St. Mark’s on November 11, 2018. After hallway conversations with Chris Gruseke, Mary Noonan, George Wright and Eloise Killeffer, and a chance conversation with me on a late Friday afternoon, we reopened the search so that Ned could be considered.
Ned is the right person for the job, and the right person for where we are now. It is as though God knew what we needed and delivered him right to us. The call process is often non-linear (even though a linear path is laid out!), longer than you expect it to be (thank you everybody!), and filled with what seems to be happenstance (thank you God’s providence!). The mark of a call is that there is a sense of deep rightness on both sides, as the puzzle pieces fit together for both the person and the organization. This is what transpired with St. Mark’s and Ned.
Many gifted musicians came our way, several of whom could have done the job. But Ned offers something special. He has the right combination of giftedness, graciousness, experience, humanity, humor, discipline, devotion, and desire to lead and to build up the body of Christ. He will easily join in with us, building up the choirs, and leading us all to deeper life in Christ through the ministry of music.
I spoke with so many people who told me we should call Ned. One person who knows us well said, “You need a stable, knowing, and loving hand at the tiller and in Ned you will have that.” Bishop Rowthorn, Assisting Bishop in Connecticut and former Bishop for the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, said that Ned was the best and most rewarding liturgist that he worked with in Europe—glowing praise from a man who is a most exacting liturgist (which we know from working with him) and a former liturgics professor at Yale Divinity School. Marilyn Keiser, one of the leading professors of church music in the United States, said that Ned is one of the finest musicians she knows and that he has great passion and skill for making music in the church. Everyone agreed that Ned makes music for the right reason—for the glory of God and the building up of the body of Christ. He is truly a minister of music. He is well known throughout the church world as having high standards and a gracious touch. He has loved his choirs and been loved by them. Everyone also agreed that Ned is a gracious gentleman with an easy, conversational wit. He is fun, and fun to work with.
After serving churches in Ohio and Georgia, Ned served for 21 years as the Canon for Music and Organist at the American (Episcopal) Cathedral in Paris. (Our own Janet Prill, who was a member of the Cathedral for years, was delighted when she heard the news!) He then served for more than six years as Canon for Music Ministry and Cathedral Arts at St. John’s Cathedral in Los Angeles. Most recently, Ned moved back to his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina to be with his ailing mother. There he has worked at Grace Episcopal Church and with a regional choir.
Ned graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Piano and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Oberlin College Conservatory. He is the founding conductor of the Paris Choral Society which, through his leadership performed an impressive number of major works for symphonic chorus and orchestra. He was the Interim Director of the Robert Shaw Institute at Emory University and continues to have an active international career as an organist and recitalist.
Ned is looking forward to working with the children’s choirs and establishing a chorister’s program. He said, “I firmly believe that the greatest and most important responsibility a church music director has is to lead children and youth to that ‘home place’ in the church, through involvement, through musical training, and through friendship connections that will continue throughout their lives.” More news to come as we gather together with Ned to create, re-create, and enhance our musical offerings.
I am beyond grateful to the Search Committee who worked long and hard to review applications and conduct on-line interviews and in-person visits. They worked together beautifully. I hope you will take time to thank Kit Devereaux and Jack Donahue (Co-Chairs), and Jennifer Dalipi, Chris Gruseke, Wendy Hillboldt, Jennifer Palmer, Mary Noonan, and Fr. Justin Crisp.
In addition, I am grateful to the St. Mark’s Parish Choir. They have worked much harder than you could imagine. They gathered for extra sessions so that our candidates could lead a rehearsal and play the organ for us. I am also grateful to Art Sjogren, our interim choir director; Virginia Leeman, our interim organist; and Michelle McBride, our interim leader of the children’s choirs. Please set aside Sunday, February 10, when we will celebrate and thank them for their ministry among us. They have done such a marvelous job and have become a part of us.
Finally, I am grateful to our Lord, who is doing more than we can know or ask for.
May God’s blessings be upon you and upon our parish.
Maranatha,
The Reverend Peter F. Walsh
Rector
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. (St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians 3:16)
Edward John “Ned” Tipton
To the people of St. Mark’s, New Canaan,
As much as we all try to control how we live our lives, we learn that, well, “God’s in charge.” The wonderful opportunity of playing with the Norwalk Symphony in early November happened to take place at St. Mark’s. I was not looking for another position, having returned to my hometown of Asheville, NC, for good, or so I thought. Organized by my good friend Christopher Bell, President of the Executive Committee of the Norwalk Symphony (and who sang in my choir in Paris), the concert was a thrilling event, certainly as a musical endeavor. But then … I met members of the choir, the Search Committee, and the staff. (Was it planned, or were they just “there?”) These, and my two conversations with Fr. Peter, convinced me that something else was in the works.
I was struck by the beauty and holiness of the physical space of St. Mark’s. I spoke with (who I learned were) members of the Search Committee, present that evening. Each person was engaged and engaging. The organ of St. Mark’s is stunningly beautiful. Staff members, choir members, and parishioners welcomed me. None of us knew what was happening.
Fast forward to January 4: Fr. Peter offered me the position. Of course, I said yes. I am humbled by Fr. Peter’s extraordinarily kind words about me. What I can promise you is this: dedication to you, to our Lord, and to exploring the inexplicably mysterious way that the Ministry of Music helps us communicate with God. Most especially, we will endeavor–together–to ensure the future of the Church.
I look forward to meeting each and every one of you. We’ve got work to do—building up the Body of Christ in this world. I’ll see you all on February 17.
Thanks be to God.
Peace, blessings, and gratitude,
Ned