MARK R. SCHOLTZ was for fourteen years the Organist and Choirmaster of Saint John’s Church (Episcopal) in Washington, Connecticut. He coordinated a concert series presented under the auspices of the Parish and was the founder and Music Director of The Saint John’s Chorale, an ensemble of 20 auditioned singers, “… one of the best small choruses around.” (The Danbury News-Times) Mr. Scholtz earned his degree in Organ Performance from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, working with Haskell Thomson (organ), William Porter (harpsichord), and Lisa Goode Crawford (continuo). Prior to Oberlin, he attended Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania studying organ and improvisation with Timothy Albrecht. Subsequently, in 1990, Mr. Scholtz studied interpretation of the organ works of Arthur Wills with the composer at Ely Cathedral, England. He has since presented premieres of several of Dr. Wills’ compositions including the American Premiere of Fenland Suite for organ, English brass band, and percussion with conductor Bruce J. Barber II; and the Cleveland Premiere of Concerto for Organ, Strings, and Timpani. As a recitalist, Mr. Scholtz has had the wonderful opportunity to play some notable instruments including New York City’s Grace Church, Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church (Citicorp), and the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine; Washington D.C.’s Saint John’s, Lafayette Square; and Boston’s Trinity Church, Copley Square, and Old South Church. Abroad, recitals have been presented in London, Ely Cathedral, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Paris. From 2008-2012, Mr. Scholtz was the Assistant Organist and Choirmaster at the Church of Saint Michael and Saint George in Clayton, Missouri.
In June of 2004, Mr. Scholtz began a four year association with the Wicks Organ Company of Highland, Illinois, first as a flue voicer and then as Tonal Director. During those years he was involved in several projects that achieved national attention most notably the organ at The First Congregational Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan. His first two instruments are at Saint Anne’s Anglican Church, Nassau, the Bahamas; and The First Presbyterian Church, Pitman, New Jersey. In the Spring of 2008 he started his own company, Scholtz Pipe Organ Tonal Solutions, Inc. specializing in the tonal design of pipe organs, voicing and revoicing of pipe work, and on-site tonal finishing of completed instruments. The company is a founding member of Robert William Wallace Pipe Organs, an alliance of individual companies and artisans offering a full range of services including revoicing of existing pipe organs, rebuilding of and technical upgrades to existing instruments, and new pipe organs custom designed to meet the unique needs of each individual client. RWW’s first installation, an instrument of 49-ranks, was installed at the Church of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception (RC), Fredericksburg, Virginia, in the autumn of 2010.
You can reach Mark at: choirmaster@goodshepherdec.org.