I am delighted to announce that Christopher Wells has been appointed as the next Director of Music at Christ Church Cranbrook. 

 

Many of you know Christopher from his time as Assistant Organist (1999-2002) under Charles Raines, whose long tenure at CCC (1980-2002) marked a highpoint in terms of the breadth and depth of choral music at CCC. Drawing from this experience, Christopher has built an enormously successful choir program at Christ Church Bronxville (NY), where he has served for the past thirteen years. 

 

When he arrived at Christ Church Bronxville, there were only two choirs - one for adults and one for children. Under his leadership, he has built an intergenerational music program numbering over 100 participants. He currently plays an integral role in the following choirs and musical offerings:  the Primary Choir (ages 4-7), the Children's Choir (ages 8-12), the Preparatory Choir (ages 8-12), the Boys Choir (ages 10-14), the Girls Choir (ages 10-14), the Christ Church Choir (comprised of 7 staff singers and 13 volunteers), the Handbell Choir (15 volunteers), the Parish Choir (30 volunteers who perform with the Christ Church Choir on special occasions), The Christ Church Philharmonic (a large, volunteer instrumental ensemble), and the Young at Arts program (an outreach to local schools that performs liturgically four times a year). Christopher also started an a cappella ensemble for teens named SHA!cappella in 2002.

 

The motivation behind his incredible productivity is, as one reference put it, Christopher's belief that "his ministry of music is for all people." His musical programs therefore stress not only musical excellence but congregational engagement. This being said, although Christopher has started an astonishing number of choirs, he has also continued to develop as an organist, releasing a CD entitled, Fanfare: Christopher Wells Plays the Organ Music of Craig Phillips (2013).

 

As "Coco" Siewert, the chair of the search committee, noted in a previous article published in the Communicant and Take it Home, we carefully surveyed the current choir and followed a delineated scale of assessment to identify each applicant's strengths. We also operated with the belief that the next Director of Music needed to have a demonstrated track record of successfully developing choirs, engaging the congregation, and reaching out to the community so that our ministry of music would continue to build on the fine musical foundation we have at CCC. 

 

The committee as a whole believed Christopher's achievements at Christ Church Bronxville exemplified what we hope CCC's music program will be in the near future. Most importantly, it became clear during the search that Christopher is mature, spiritually grounded, resilient, Christ-centered and generous. We are grateful and blessed that God has called him our way.

 

Finally, please know that Christopher has already been in touch with our own Christopher Reynolds, who was a finalist for this position and remains a beloved member of the staff here at CCC. I am confident that they will form a remarkable team that will lead CCC into the future.

 

Please welcome Christopher and look forward with us to his arrival on July 15, 2015.

 

Yours faithfully,

   

 

 

 

 Bill