Arts

Friday, June 28: Jesse Ratcliffe

Jesse Ratcliffe is a native of Hinton, West Virginia, a graduate of Concord University, Athens, WV (BA); Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA (MM); and the North American Carillon School, Springfield, IL (Performance Diploma). Additionally, he has completed post-graduate studies at Westminster Choir College. In June 2019, he became a Carillonneur member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America (GCNA). His work as a recitalist has been heard in numerous venues, most notably during the 2014 Edinburgh International Music Festival and the 2018 Thomas Rees International Carillon Festival in Springfield, IL. Jesse is the Director of Music and Organist at All Saints Episcopal Church in Frederick, MD. 

Jesse Ratcliffe Concert Program

Friday, July 5: James Brinson

James (Jim) Brinson, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, joined the faculty at Mercersburg Academy in 2003 and was named Mercersburg’s fourth carillonneur in 2009. Preceding Brinson were Carillonneurs Anton Brees (1926–1928), Bryan Barker (1928–1981) and James W. Smith (1983– 2009). Brinson holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, and a Master’s in Sacred Music from the School of Music at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Before coming to Mercersburg, he served as Organist and Choirmaster at Church of the Holy Communion and St. Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis. He also served at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and School in Winter Haven, Florida, in addition to teaching organ and music history at Florida Southern College in Lakeland.

James Brinson Concert Program

Friday, July 12: David Hunsberger

David Hunsberger grew up in southern New Jersey. He holds the Bachelor of Music cum laude from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, OH, the Master of Music and PhD in music from Washington University in St Louis, MO, the Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley, and the Associate certificate from the American Guild of Organists, which he attained at age 20. He was admitted to the California bar in 1987. He has taught music at the Thailand Theological Seminary in Chiang Mai, Webster College in Webster Groves, MO, and Washington University. Since age 13, he has been the organist at Methodist, Episcopal, Congregational, and Presbyterian churches. Currently, he is organist/director at Zion Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Piedmont, CA. He practiced law in Berkeley for eight years before assuming an administrative staff position with the University of California. He studied Carillon with James R Lawson at the Riverside Church in New York City and with Raymond Keldermans in Springfield IL. Since 1983, he has been an Assistant Carilloner at the Berkeley campus. He has given carillon recitals widely in the U.S., Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. For 30 years he was the legal counsel to The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America and for 25 years its treasurer.

David Hunsberger Concert Program

Friday, July 19: Gerald Martindale (CANCELED DUE TO GLOBAL TECH OUTAGE)

Since 2016, Gerald Martindale has been playing weekly at the Exhibition Place Carillon after serving for almost two decades as Carillonneur of the historic Metropolitan United Church of Toronto. He earned a Bachelor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Windsor and holds Associate Diplomas in Organ from the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto and the Royal Canadian College of Organists. He studied Carillon with Dr. Sydney Shep, former Carillonneur of the University of Toronto. On a private basis, Mr. Martindale teaches piano and organ and sings in two community choirs. For the past 20 years, he has been active as a background performer, having acted in 360 movie and television productions. In July 2023, he concluded his 21st annual Carillon concert tour of the United States. At the end of August 2023, he concluded his 10th tour of Europe performing 11 carillon recitals in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

Gerald Martindale Concert Program

Friday, July 26: Edward M. Nassor

Edward M. Nassor is the Cathedral Carillonneur of Washington National
Cathedral and the Director-Carillonneur of the Netherlands Carillon in Arlington,
Virginia. He began his carillon studies in Richmond, VA, at Virginia
Commonwealth University, then continued his studies with Frank P. Law, of Valley
Forge, PA, before earning a Practical Diploma from the Netherlands Carillon
School, in Amersfoort, NL, as a recipient of a Fulbright grant. A member of the
Guild of Carillonneurs in North America, he has served on the board of directors,
and the student advancement committee. Currently, he serves on the Barnes
Scholarship and the music publication committees. Mr. Nassor enjoys playing at
the McDonogh School, saying, “The combination of the perfectly manicured
grounds and the beautifully tuned Dutch bells make for an unforgettable listening
experience.”

Ed Nassor Concert Program

Photo Credit: Matt Mendelsohn