ARRIVING IN MARCH 2019
DR. LEON BURKE III
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
& ORGANIST
It is the pleasure of the Music Committee of the Church, to announce the hiring of Dr. Leon Burke III as our new Director of Music and Organist.
Dr. Burke, who prefers to be called Leon, is a St. Louis native. He is currently serving as the Choir Director of Eliot Chapel Unitarian Universalist Church in Kirkwood, where his service will conclude, as of March 4. Leon was introduced to the Canterbury Bells and the Chancel Choir, last night at their rehearsals.
Leon's first appearance as a staff member of First Church will take place on Ash Wednesday evening, when he is briefly introduced at Peace Church at the start of the union worship service there at 7:00PM, March 6. His first Sunday in worship with us will be March 10.
Leon received his Bachelor's degree from Oberlin College and has Master's and Doctoral degrees in Orchestral and Choral Conducting from the University of Kansas. He was a Fulbright Fellow who studied in Paraguay. Leon is the Music Director and Conductor of the University City Symphony Orchestra, Assistant Director of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, and Music Director of the Belleville, Illinois, Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. He has been a frequent guest conductor and vocal soloist both nationally and internationally.
Leon and his wife, Olivia are residents of O'Fallon, Missouri, and have three daughters - Esther, Noel, and Angela - and three granddaughters, Maia, and Violet who live in Topeka, Kansas, and Felicity Annette in St. Louis.
Perhaps you're wondering,
Which area high school did he attend? What other credits does he have? Read more about Dr. Leon Burke III at
his Wikipedia page.
Please, plan to be present in worship to welcome Leon, Ash Wednesday and the First Sunday of Lent!
Your Music Committee
Co-Chairs Chris von Weise and Roger Barnes,
Parish Life Ministry Chair Cathy Buerk,
At Large members Rev. Cliff Aerie, Mark Cereghino, Erick Falconer,
Carol Mallette, Julie McHugh, Diane McLean, and John Paci
