Matthew Glandorf, the longtime artistic director of Choral Arts Philadelphia and its associated ensemble, the Philadelphia Bach Collegium, will be leaving not just those two local musical groups but also his post as director of music at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Rosemont, one of the region’s leading “Anglo-Catholic” parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. He is leaving the country, and moving to Germany to take a new position as “regional cantor” in the city of Cloppenburg.

Glandorf first came to Philadelphia in the fall of 1988 as an organ major at the Curtis Institute of Music at 16. His teacher at Curtis was the legendary organ pedagogue, John Weaver.  Glandorf also studied with Dr. Ford Lallersted, who taught him species counterpoint, music history and keyboard studies.

“It was he who believed enough in me to invite me to join the musical studies faculty in 1995. My first few years were pretty rough! I have served on the faculty for 27 years, teaching ear training classes, especially to the pre-college level students. Among my students have been pianists Lang Lang and Yujia Wang! Additionally, I have taught music history, harmony, keyboard studies, improvisation, and counterpoint, my favorite subject to teach.”

Glandorf additionally directed a madrigal group and started the historically informed performance practice studies. “Sadly, the school just won’t commit to historical performance practices, so it feels like a good time to move on to something else.”

During his decades in Philadelphia, Glandorf has worked at several local churches. As a student at Curtis, he worked at Swarthmore Presbyterian Church and as Peter Conte’s assistant at the Washington Memorial Chapel at Valley Forge. He was the director of music at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion, Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church, Old St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (all in Center City Philadelphia) and currently at Good Shepherd in Rosemont.

“In each case,” he explained, “I have built up the choral programs in each of these churches and tried to create music programs that celebrated the best of each one’s musical traditions.”

Glandorf described his becoming artistic director of Choral Arts Philadelphia as having “fallen into the position.”

“I was the assistant conductor and wound up conducting the final concert of the 2004 season upon the sudden departure of my predecessor. At the time, Choral Arts had around 100 singers. It took a while to try and find our musical niche in the choral landscape. Since there were so many other symphonic-size choruses, it just didn’t make sense for us to be yet another large group.”

He explained that the decision was made to downsize the chorus to the number of 40 singers it has today. Its focus has moved to the repertoire of J.S. Bach’s cantatas. To perform the instrumental accompaniments to these sacred choral works on period instruments, Glandorf established the Philadelphia Bach Collegium.

“I am very proud of the work we have done,” Glandorf said, “including the performance of scores that wouldn’t otherwise have been heard in Philadelphia.”

Speaking of his work as an organist, Glandorf explained, “I was educated in the “romantic” tradition. However, I went through a bit of an artistic crisis around the whole ‘modern performance”’ scene. It was the discovery of early music and the musical community that was already here, such as Joan Kimball and Robert Wiemkin of Piffaro and Gwyn Roberts and Richard Stone at Tempesta di Mare (both of which regularly perform at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill) that attracted my attention.

“What was once a rare and small offering in Philadelphia,” he added, “has become rich and vibrant throughout the region. Over the past few years, I’ve had the chance to play as organist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. It is so much fun knowing that I went to school with or have taught nearly half the members of the Orchestra.” 

In his new position of “regional cantor” (the Lutheran terminology for director of music), Glandorf said, “I will direct the music in the main Lutheran parish in the city and direct choirs, play for liturgies, and organize concerts. I will also be overseeing the church’s music for some 22 other parishes in the district. I look forward to playing more organ recitals and to introducing some of the English and American choral literature there.”

I’ve known Matt personally and professionally since his days at Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church, perhaps most directly during his tenure at “Old “St. Joe’s” Catholic Church in Society Hill, my own parish. Two points stood out then and stand out now: His unequaled gifts as an improviser at the organ, and his genius as a molder of a choral sound that is peerless in its tonal beauty. He will be sorely missed in Philadelphia.

You can contact NOTEWORTHY at Michael-caruso@comcast.net.