I'm a native of New York City, the home of both sides of my family for many generations. I was born at Lenox Hill Hospital and grew up at 32 Gramercy Park South.

When I was nine, we moved to Port Washington, Long Island.  I attended Saint Mary's Boys' High School, Manhasset, and Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception, Douglaston, where I graduated magna cum laude.  I served as Music Director of Most Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in East Hampton, LI, and also did high school musical directing in Sag Harbor.
Twelve years old, at Saint Peter's School in Port Washington, LI.  Photo by Pete Lamour, our 7th grade science teacher, a confirmed Nikon fanatic...and the best science teacher I ever had.
In 1984, I began graduate work at the University of Chicago. I received the MA in English Lit, with honors, in 1985, and won a full fellowship for the PhD.   Meanwhile I played a 1924 E. M. Skinner at the United Church of Hyde Park on 53rd and Blackstone.

I began serious organ study in 1985, while beginning PhD studies.  My piano training had also begun late--at 17--with Mrs. Grace Kromer (1893-1991) in Port Washington. 

After several years of 18th century British literature, I quit English in favor of music. I worked with David Schrader at Roosevelt University, earning the M.Mus. with honors in December, 1994.  While in Chicago, I served at several major city churches, including Saint Peter's in the Loop and Fourth Presbyterian.

In 1997, I became an Associate of the American Guild of Organists, winning the Associateship Prize and the S. Lewis Elmer Prize for the highest scores in the nation on the Guild's annual certification exams. That same spring, I was offered a teaching fellowship for the Doctor of Music at the School of Music of Indiana University, Bloomington. I went, and studied with Marilyn Keiser, and also with Chris Young.

In addition to organ studies, I was required to declare two minor fields; I chose Music Theory and Music History to gain versatility as a teacher and scholar.

I began as a drill instructor for T231, first-semester sophomore ear training.  The next spring, I was promoted to Skills Co-ordinator for T232, and entrusted with oversight for the second-semester course in advanced tonal ear training. This required me to overhaul the course packet, plan the curriculum for my twice-weekly lectures and my assistants' drill sections,  implement the course materials in a syllabus of my own design, and write all the examinations. 

It was one of the greatest privileges in my life to teach this course, and one of my greatest learning experiences.
A Biographical Sketch
At The Church of the Epiphany's Aeolian-Skinner organ in Manhattan.  Picture by the Rev. Dr. Ellen Francis, OSH
In 1999, in Indianapolis, I became a Fellow of the American Guild of Organists; and in 2000, was elected to Pi Kappa Lambda, the national music honor society.  In 2001, I was elected a member of the Association of Anglican Musicians.  In December of that year, I graduated from the School of Music as a Doctor of Music.  I was invested with the doctoral hood by Chris Young, Chairman of the department.  In 2002 I was elected a member of the St. Wilfrid Club, a century-old New York City club for the area's leading organists. 

I had returned home to NYC in September of 2000 and engaged in extensive church and synagogue work. I also work regularly with Bill Powers, a marvelous classical saxophone player.  I invested four years of hard work helping to rebuild an Episcopal parish on the Upper East Side--work that I will always take pride in.

I am now happy to serve at a healthy and supportive parish in northern New Jersey, and am continuing to do my best to insure that church has a future in America.  My synagogue is growing by leaps and bounds, and it warms my heart.

As a writer, I have served as newsletter editor for four AGO chapters:  Chicago, Bloomington, Manhattan and Brooklyn.  I've published reviews in Choral Journal and The Living Church, and had poetry in print (in, among other places, Pegasus; The National College Poetry Review; The East Hampton Star; The Douglaston Review; and the odd college or coffee house samizdat).  I've given poetry readings at Canio's Books in Sag Harbor and on WHPK-FM, the radio station of the University of Chicago.  I have published in The American Organist and in The Tracker, as well as the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. My book on Calvin Hampton is forthcoming, and more work is underway.

I've given solo organ recitals throughout America and abroad.  I've played extensively in New York City and environs, Washington, Indianapolis, Chicago, Oklahoma City, San Francisco, Singapore, London, Oxford, Edinburgh, Cologne, Moscow, and a host of other wonderful places. I have given workshops for the AGO both locally and nationally and played locally and nationally for the Organ Historical Society. I am enjoying a life devoted to music, literature, and spirituality, and to good friends near and far.
With Cherry Rhodes at
Princeton, March 2004
Easter 1969, Gramercy Park.  JH solemnly gazes into the camera for "Town and Village" magazine.
Playing an historic 1877 Jardine, St. Matthew Trinity, Hoboken NJ, May 2004
Edinburgh, June 2002, on tour
My metal tag from a neighborhood clean-up day in my hometown.' I'm proud to be a "litter-picker!"  Those were the days in New York...even the good sisters who taught us swept out the gutters with us.