DIANE MEREDITH BELCHER is making history as one of very few women ever appointed to a traditional men-and-boys choir, when she commences work at Old Saint Paul’s Church, Baltimore (established 1692) later this summer. But in a reflection of this century’s new paradigm, the job includes the direction of a separate girls’ choir, thus celebrating the rich, ages-old traditions of Anglican music without bars that unfairly block anyone from participation. The appointment was made by the Rector, Rev. Mark Stanley, upon the unanimous recommendation of the search committee, out of an international field of 72 applicants.

The Choir of Men and Boys first sang on Easter Sunday in 1873, making it among the oldest such choirs in the United States. The Girls Choir, begun in 2002, also sings regularly with the men at Sunday services. The boys and girls of the choir are drawn from St. Paul’s School and St. Paul's School for Girls, respectively, in nearby Brooklandville. The church’s present building (1856) was designed by Richard Upjohn; the organ is housed in the 1859 Roosevelt case, and contains some original pipework, as well as that of later rebuilds by E. M. Skinner, Austin, and Möller.

Coincidentally, Ms. Belcher joins a city with other remarkable women in conducting posts: Marin Alsop is the Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (the first female conductor appointed to a major American orchestra,) and Melinda O’Neal directs the stellar Handel Choir of Baltimore.

A graduate of The Curtis Institute and The Eastman School of Music, and a prize-winner at both the St. Albans (England) and Chartres (France) international organ competitions, Diane Meredith Belcher is known as one of the finest organist/church musicians of her generation. Having trained initially with David Spicer at Wayne Presbyterian Church (Pennsylvania,) she also studied with John Weaver, Clarence Watters, David Craighead, and Wilma Jensen. She has served at Park Central Presbyterian Church, Syracuse, several parishes in Memphis (Tennessee,) The Memphis Concert Chorale (which she founded,) Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, and Old Christ Church, Philadelphia. She is widely known as a fine pedagogue, having taught at The University of Memphis, Westminster Choir College, The University of Pennsylvania, and several Pipe Organ Encounters (training courses for teenagers) of the American Guild of Organists. She is also the composer of a small body of organ and sacred choral music.

Ms. Belcher is an internationally acclaimed concert artist, having made her solo debut at age fifteen. Her extensive recital diary has included Disney Hall, Los Angeles; Grace Cathedral; the opening concert of The Wanamaker Organ's 100^th anniversary; Saint Thomas, New York; The Oregon Bach Festival; Woolsey Hall, Yale University; Verizon Hall, Philadelphia; The Cleveland Museum of Art; West Point Cadet Chapel; Spivey Hall; Benaroya Hall, Seattle; Girard College, Philadelphia; The Wildwood Festival, Little Rock; Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago; Cathedral of the Madeleine, Salt Lake City; First Congregational Church, Los Angeles; The Auditorium, Independence, Missouri; Ned Rorem’s 80^th birthday celebration, Philadelphia; Portland City Hall, Maine; and the Crystal Cathedral, Los Angeles.

Her solo orchestral appearances are numerous, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Jacksonville Symphony, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra. She has performed numerous duo-recitals with trumpeters Rob Roy McGregor and Scott Moore, and performed the world premiere of Roxanna Panufnik's Love Abide with the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia. Among her several recordings are the premiere CD of the Glatter-Götz/ Rosales organ in Claremont, California, which won The Absolute Sound’s Golden Ear Award in 2000, and her debut recording at age 23 of the famed Skinner organ at Girard College, considered by many to be the finest recording of the Suite, op. 5, of Maurice Duruflé. 2010 – 2011 will see the release of three new solo recordings.

She appears regularly at music conferences and conventions as a solo artist, judge, clinician, and workshop leader; her solo recital this summer at The Biennial National Convention of The American Guild of Organists in Washington, DC, marks her fourth such honor. In addition, this June sees her performance of the complete organ works of Robert Schumann, in celebration of the 200^th anniversary of his birth.

Ms. Belcher will assume her post at Old Saint Paul’s in August of 2010.

May 3, 2010