The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin

 Feast Day Organ Recitals at Saint Mary’s
2026–2027

The recital on November 1 is at 3:30 PM. Evensong & Benediction follows.
All other recitals begin at 5:30 PM and are followed by Solemn Mass.

Sunday, November 1, All Saints’ Day – 3:30 PM (preceding Evensong & Benediction)
Alan Montgomery

Alan Mongomery holds the title of Artist in Residence at Saint Mary the Virgin. A native of Vacaville, California, Alan is the Project Director for Casavant Frères, a leading pipe organ builder based in Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, overseeing construction of new organs and renovation of historic instruments throughout the United States. Before starting at Casavant Frères, he served as the Associate Organist and Interim Director of Music at the Riverside Church, where he was responsible for the administration of one of the most extensive music programs in New York. Alan is a graduate of the Juilliard School, where he earned a Master of Music degree while studying with Paul Jacobs. He also holds a Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree from the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied with David Graham and Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin. While in London, he served as Organ Scholar of Saint Mark’s, Hamilton Terrace and Farm Street Church. His program on All Saints’ Day will include works by Jean Langlais, Jehan Alain, Josef Rheinberger, Robert Elmore, and Percy Whitlock.

Tuesday, December 8, The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary – 5:30 PM
Ross Wood

Praised for his “exquisite playing” (Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians) Ross Wood served as associate organist at Boston’s Church of the Advent and Trinity Church Copley Square after studies at Southern Methodist University and Eastman School of Music. For twenty-three years he was also a librarian at Wellesley College. Among Mr. Wood’s recital appearances in New York are Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Saint Thomas Church, Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, and Trinity Church Wall Street. In France, he has appeared at Notre-Dame de Paris on three occasions and in festivals at Bourges and Carcassonne. Equally appreciated as an accompanist, his four recordings with the Trinity Choir garnered critical acclaim. On tour he accompanied the Trinity Choir at Westminster Abbey, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, and the cathedrals of Ely and Chichester. As a freelancer he has performed in the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Helmuth Rilling and James Levine, and with the Boston Pops under Keith Lockhart. His program on December 8 will include works by Nicolas de Grigny, Charles Tournemire, and Marcel Dupré.

Wednesday, January 6, The Epiphany – 5:30 PM
James Wetzel

James D. Wetzel is the Director of Music and Organist of the Parish of Saint Vincent Ferrer and Saint Catherine of Siena on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, a post he has held since 2016. The Parish’s professional Schola Cantorum, one of the best liturgical choirs in the country, sings for approximately one hundred Masses every year. James previously served as Organist and Choirmaster of midtown’s Church of Saint Agnes and as Organ Scholar under Bruce Neswick at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. He also was an adjunct lecturer in Hunter College’s music department (2011–2016) and Assistant Conductor of the Greenwich Choral Society in Connecticut (2010–2023). Mr. Wetzel is active as an organist and continuo player, having performed at the Berkshire Choral Festival and with the Collegiate Chorale, the Orchestra of Saint Luke’s, the American Symphony Orchestra, the American Classical Orchestra, Cantori New York, the Cecilia Chorus of New York, the National Chorale, the Oratorio Society of New York, and the Paul Winter Consort. He is the immediate past Dean of the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, President of the Catholic Artists Society, and a board member of the New York Purgatorial Society. Born in Pittsburgh, James earned a bachelor’s degree in organ performance from The Juilliard School under Paul Jacobs and was the first person ever to graduate with a master’s degree and a professional studies certificate in choral conducting from Manhattan School of Music, studying with Kent Tritle. He also studied privately with Robert Page and spent a year reading Early Christianity and Apologetics at Columbia University. His program on January 6 will include music by Sigfrid Karg-Elert, E. Friedrich Richter, and Josef Rheinberger.

Tuesday, February 2, The Presentation – 5:30 PM
Justin Bischof

Justin Bischof is an internationally acclaimed conductor, concert organist, composer, and visionary arts leader whose distinguished career spans the worlds of orchestral music, opera, and the great traditions of the organ. Renowned for his commanding musicianship, artistic versatility, and imaginative programming, he has built an international career as both performer and conductor. As Founder and Music Director of New York City’s MOO | Modus Operandi Orchestra, he has established a dynamic artistic institution dedicated to exceptional performance, ambitious repertoire, and advancing musical excellence. A passionate champion of the arts, Bischof combines an international performing career with significant institutional leadership, serving as Chair of the Manhattan School of Music Alumni Association and a member of the Board of the Lotos Foundation. He is also Director of Music and Organist at Christ Church Pelham Manor and Music Director of Larchmont Temple. Equally at home on the conductor’s podium, at the organ console, and in the world of composition, he brings a distinctive artistic vision and an enduring commitment to enriching the cultural life of New York City and audiences internationally. His program on February 2 will include works by Jehan Alain and improvisation. He will also improvise the Sortie at the end of the Mass.

Monday, April 5, The Annunciation (tr.) – 5:30 PM
David Hurd

David Hurd is Organist and Director of Music at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin. He is widely recognized as a church musician and concert organist with many awards, prizes, and honors recognizing his expertise in performance, improvisation, and composition. From 1976 until 2015, he served on the faculty of The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York City, as Director of Chapel Music, Organist, and Professor of Church Music. For his work at General Theological Seminary and his substantial musical contributions, five other academic institutions have awarded him honorary doctorates. Dr. Hurd has also taught at Duke University, Yale University, Manhattan School of Music, and Westminster Choir College. He has composed dozens of choral and organ works, many of which are published and widely performed. He was a major contributor to the Episcopal Church’s Hymnal 1982 and his music is seen in hymnals and choir libraries in churches of many denominations. In 2010 he became the fifteenth recipient of The American Guild of Organists’ Distinguished Composer award. From 1998–2013 he was Music Director and Organist at Church of the Holy Apostles (Episcopal) in New York City. Since winning the first prizes both in performance and improvisation of the 1977 International Congress of Organists, he has performed throughout North America and Europe and has been a featured artist at several national and regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists He was invited to perform at the Internationaal Orgelfestival Haarlem, during which he received a diploma for improvisation of the Stitchting Internationaal Orgelconcours. His program on April 5 will include music by Felix Mendelssohn and Josef Rheinberger.

Thursday, May 6, Ascension Day – 5:30 PM
John Sherer

Organist John W. W. Sherer has been hailed by critics as “a terrific musician, a pronounced virtuoso who plays with assurance, authority, and superb energy.” Dr. Sherer has performed hundreds of organ recitals throughout the United States, Japan, and England, including several for regional and national organist conventions.An active church musician since 1980, Dr. Sherer is widely known as a musician who creates inspiring music with love and passion. He has been Organist and Director of Music for Saint George’s Catholic Church in Cincinnati, Ohio; The Episcopal Church at Yale, New Haven, Connecticut; Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, Walnut Creek, California, Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church, New York, New York and at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, Illinois He has led twelve choir tours, several within America, but also to Cuba, Guatemala, France, England, Scotland, Israel, Palestine, South Africa, and India. Dr. Sherer currently serves as Organist and Director of Music at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Rochester, New York. In addition, he is a consultant for musical events in the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester and for clergy and musicians around the country on a variety of topics. He is an active member of the American Guild of Organists and the Association of Anglican Musicians. A native of Xenia, Ohio, Dr. Sherer is married to the Right Reverend Kara Wagner Sherer, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester, New York. He has studied organ with David Mulbury, Roberta Gary, Thomas Murray, and John Weaver and conducting with John Leman and Walden Moore. He received two bachelor’s degrees, in organ performance and choral music education, from the University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory of Music. He earned two master’s degrees at Yale University, majoring in organ performance and art in religion, and received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ performance from The Juilliard School. There is certain to be some Widor on John Sherer’s Ascension Day program at Saint Mary’s.