David Briggs is an internationally renowned organist whose performances are acclaimed for their musicality, virtuosity, and ability to excite and engage audiences of all ages. With an extensive repertoire spanning five centuries, he is known across the globe for his brilliant organ transcriptions of symphonic music by composers such as Mahler, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Elgar, Bruckner, Ravel, and Bach. Fascinated by the art of Improvisation since a child, David also frequently performs improvisations to silent films such as Phantom of the Opera, Hunchback of Notre-Dame, Nosferatu, Jeanne d’Arc, Metropolis, as well as a variety of Charlie Chaplin films.

At the age of 17, David obtained his FRCO (Fellow of the Royal College of Organists) diploma, winning all the prizes and the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. From 1981-84 he was the Organ Scholar at King’s College, Cambridge University, during which time he studied organ with Jean Langlais in Paris. The first British winner of the Tournemire Prize at the St Albans International Improvisation Competition, he also won the first prize in the International Improvisation Competition at Paisley. Subsequently David held positions at Hereford, Truro and Gloucester Cathedrals. He was Artist-in-Residence at St James Cathedral, Toronto and  is currently Artist-in-Residence at the Cathedral of St John the Divine, New York City.
David’s schedule includes more than 60 concerts a year, spanning several continents. Deeply committed to making organ music vibrant for future generations, he enjoys giving pre-concert lectures designed to make organ music more accessible to audiences. In addition, he teaches at Cambridge (UK), frequently serves on international organ competition juries, and gives masterclasses at colleges and conservatories across the U.S. and Europe.

David Briggs is also a prolific composer and his works range from full scale oratorios to works for solo instruments. He has recorded a DVD, and 30 CDs, many of which include his own compositions and transcriptions.

Brad Hughley is Director of Music and Organist of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Indianapolis, IN where he oversees a large and diverse music program.  From 2000-2013, he was Organist & Choirmaster of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta. There he oversaw four choirs and the installation of a new pipe organ, released two recordings with the choirs and developed a concert series. Under his direction, the choirs made tours to New York City, Nashville, Asheville and New Orleans.

Brad received his formal training at Westminster Choir College (Princeton, NJ), where he graduated with a Bachelor of Sacred Music (summa cum laude). He also has a Master of Arts degree from Brandeis University (Waltham, MA) and a Master of Sacred Music degree from Emory University (Atlanta). He taught music history and a chant practicum course for the Anglican Studies Program at Candler Theological Seminary in Atlanta for four years, and served as a teacher for the Leadership Program for Musicians, a national ecumenical program that administers a curriculum covering key areas in church music. He also holds the Associate certificate from the American Guild of Organists.

       

Shawn R. Dawson holds a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied organ with Professor David Higgs and improvisation with Dr. William Porter. Mr. Dawson earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance from Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music studying organ with Professor Nicole Keller.

Currently pursuing a DMA in Organ Performance and a cognate in Sacred Music at the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Mr. Dawson studies organ, harpsichord, and continuo with Dr. Michael Unger.

Mr. Dawson is a devoted church musician and an active recitalist, with over a decade of experience in church music. He served as Interim Organist and Director of Music at Calvary for two years prior to becoming the permanent, full-time Director of Music on July 1, 2018.

Emily Meixner serves as the organist and director of sacred music at Saint Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Louisville, KY. A native of Ashland, OH, Dr. Meixner holds degrees from Franciscan University of Steubenville (BA), the Cleveland Institute of Music (MM), and the University of Notre Dame (DMA). Her scholarly research focuses primarily on the French organist and composer Louis Vierne (1877-1937), with special interest in his organ symphonies. She has studied organ with Craig Cramer, Douglas Reed, Todd Wilson, Timothy Guenther, and Paul Weber.

As a successful competitor, she recently won first prize at the Pittsburgh Concert Society Competition for Young Organists and first prize at the Tuesday Musical Association Performance Scholarship Competition in Organ. A dedicated church musician, Dr. Meixner earned a minor in theology while studying in Franciscan University and recently passed the Colleague Examination of the American Guild of Organists. An active recitalist, she has recently performed in the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church concert series (South Bend, IN); the L’Organo concert series at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival (Charleston, S.C.); the Millennium Stage concert series at the Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.); and the Cleveland Museum of Art Performing Arts Series (Cleveland, OH).

Jon is a native of Roanoke, Virginia. He served as the Associate Organist and Choirmaster at Christ Church Cathedral in Nashville, TN for eight years before coming to Good Shepherd in June of 2015. Jon received his MM in organ performance and the Sacred Music Diploma from the Eastman School of Music, as well as his MM in choral conducting and BM in organ performance from East Carolina University.

Mr. Johnson has performed concerts across the United States and his European debut took him to Canterbury and Southwark Cathedrals, England, and Göteborg, Sweden. He is a member of the American Guild of Organists, Association of Anglican Musicians, and the Royal School of Church Music.

He was the nominating chair and a former dean for the Nashville Chapter AGO. In addition, Johnson served a week residency at Winchester Cathedral in 2014 where he was the organist for all services. Future engagements include The Gloucester Cathedral, UK; St. Paul’s Cathedral, UK; and Westminster Abbey, UK.