Music Director: Thompson Howell
Thompson is an accomplished organist, choir director, actor, and radio personality who comes to us from Los 
Angeles. Raised in Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Dedham, Massachusetts, he joined the choir and studied piano as a boy. He began studying organ as a young teen with the church organist at his home parish, and then with Brian Jones, Organist and Director of Music Emeritus at Trinity Church, Copley Square, in Boston. Halfway through high school, he got the acting bug, which led him to major in theater at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He became a radio personality and voice actor in Chicago, but his love for the organ was rekindled when he moved to Los Angeles in 2006. Since then, Thompson has been pursuing a hybrid career in music and voice acting, and he has enjoyed great success in both fields.
Art and Music
Art and music play an enormous role in our worship. Our church is filled with images, murals, mosaics, sculptures, and stained glass, including several Tiffany windows, all of which work together to teach the faith, train the affections and inspire our hearts and minds to worship the Incarnate Lord.
Taking full advantage of the Anglican tradition of hymnody, song and chant, St. John’s music ministry is directed by Mr. Ted Phillips, our organist & Music Director, and Tiffany Dzembo, our choir director. Our musical offerings include:
- Choir - Adults, teens and children with a basic understanding of how to read music are invited to join our choir. The choir rehearses once a week and performs weekly at the 10 a.m. service on Sundays. They help lead the congregation in singing all the hymns scheduled for the service, as well as the occasional Anthem.
- Communion Music – During Holy Communion we invite soloists and small groups of musicians to perform sacred music.
- Meneely Bells – St. John’s is proud to maintain the tradition of playing church bells before each 10 a.m. service and for special occasions. We have a small group of chimers led by Andy Mace.
- Candlelight Meditations – During Advent and Lent we host weekly candlelight meditation services that invite the community to sit in peace while listening to a vocal or instrumental soloist. These services typically occur midweek and are an hour long.
If you are interested in any of these opportunities or would like more information about them, contact Ted at office@stjohnstroy.org or Tiffany at tdzembo@stjohnstroy.org.
