Stephen Kennedy
Stephen Kennedy (organ) is Director of Music and Organist at Christ Church Rochester, Instructor of Sacred Music at the Eastman School of Music, Director of Chapel Music and Instructor in Liturgical Music at Bexley Hall Episcopal Seminary, Instructor of Organ for Eastmanâs Community Education Division and Instructor of Piano at Nazareth College.
Stephen founded the Office of Compline at Christ Church in 1997 and is also the founder and director of the celebrated Christ Church Schola Cantorum, a group that specializes in the performance of early sacred choral music and chant, contemporary music, and choral improvisation. Minnesota Public Radio and Richard Gladwellâs âWith Heart and Voiceâ have broadcast Schola recordings nationally. The Schola has performed regularly for the Eastman School of Music’s EROI Festivals and other local concert series.
Stephen has collaborated with celebrated organists Edoardo Belotti, Hans Davidsson, David Higgs, William Porter, and Todd Wilson in re-creating and developing historical as well as contemporary liturgical music performances. He has also served as director of music and advisor for Diocesan Conventions of the Episcopal Church, and special liturgies for Colgate Rochester Divinity School.
Stephen has appeared in many venues as organ soloist in programs of standard repertoire as well as recitals consisting solely of improvisations. He has been a performer and lecturer for local and regional events of the American Guild of Organists, and has given workshops on choral music and chant and improvisation in the U.S. and abroad. He is also a composer of choral, instrumental, and chamber music as well as a collaborative musician, having recently composed music for choreographer Jamey Leverett and the Rochester City Ballet.
Stephen is also a countertenor and specializes in teaching singing styles for early music.