Our Music Leadership

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Gregory Hooker

Minister of Music

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Gregory has served at St. Mary’s since 2003. Gregory completed the Doctor of Music degree in organ and church music at Indiana University in 2010. His final document is entitled “Reflections on Theological and Musical Education in Episcopal Seminaries.”  At IU he studied organ with Marilyn Keiser and Larry Smith, studied harpsichord with Elisabeth Wright and was an Associate Instructor in piano. His previous organ study was with David Mulbury at the College-Conservatory of Music/University of Cincinnati where he received the Master of Music degree.  He also holds the Master of Church Music degree with a second major in piano performance from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky.  His piano studies at Southern were with renowned pedagogue and piano music editor Maurice Hinson. More recently he studied organ improvisation with Naji Hakim in Paris for a portion of his 2012 sabbatical.

Dr. Hooker has performed organ recitals across the United States at venues including the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta; Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis; and the National Cathedral. He contributes to Royal School of Church Music Washington Course for Advanced Trebles as a planning committee member. Dr. Hooker has served on the planning committees for the 2010 National Convention of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) in and the 2014 Association of Anglican Musicians National Conference. He has been an adjudicator for several regional organ competitions and has presented workshops for AGO local chapter meetings and a national convention. Dr. Hooker has had articles published by The Christian Standard, The Anglican Digest, and The Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians. St. Mary’s Choirs have sung for regional and national conferences and at the following venues: Trinity Church, Copley Square, Boston; Washington National Cathedral; St. Paul’s, K Street, Washington, D.C.

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Gregory Stuart 

Assistant Music Director, Bass, Section Leader, & Handbell Choir Director

 

Gregory has been part of the music program at St. Mary’s since 2009. A lifelong musician, he performs regularly in the DC area and further afield. He has professional credits in opera, musicals, and plays. He especially adores Shakespeare. A love of teaching makes assisting Dr. Hooker with the choirs and leading the Handbell Choir a joy. He teaches voice lessons, yoga and Pilates, and lectures on theatre literature bringing abundant enthusiasm for the material to the classroom. He is an avid student of foreign languages and enjoys genealogy and gardening.

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Matt Gabay

Volunteer Music Associate assists Dr. Hooker as organist for services and accompanist for the choirs.

 

Matt and his wife, Susan, have been parishioners at St. Mary’s since 2006, and he has served as the Associate Organist since 2013.  He is in his second year of studies toward a Master of Music in Sacred Music with a concentration in organ performance.  Matt holds the Colleague and Associate certifications from the American Guild of Organists (AGO).  Matt sang as a boy in the Men and Boys Choir at St. Peter’s, Morristown, New Jersey. Before he turned his focus to music, Matt was as an officer in the US Navy, where he served for eight years as a helicopter pilot.  After his military service, he spent another eight years with a private sector management consultancy working in support of federal clients. Matt and Susan reside in Arlington with their three children.