PALMER CHURCH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Music
- Associate Professor & Chair of the Music Department at the University of St. Thomas
Dr. Brady Knapp is Director of Music at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston, TX, where he oversees an active multi-generational music ministry. During Dr. Knapp's tenure, working closely with Courtney Daniell-Knapp Palmer's Director of Children's Music, the Palmer choirs have been invited to sing for national & regional music conferences. Palmer‘s choirs have been featured, by invitation, on conventions for the American Choral Directors Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, American Guild of Organists, and the Anglican Association of Musicians. Dr. Knapp has led the choirs on international and domestic tours, including choral residencies in the United Kingdom and the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.
Additionally, Dr. Knapp is Associate Professor & Chair of the Music Department at the University of St. Thomas in Houston. He advises music major students and coordinates the graduate and undergraduate degree programs. Dr. Knapp conducts the University Singers, leads UST's opera workshop, and teaches studio voice to music majors. Under Dr. Knapp's leadership the University Singers‘ ensemble has been featured on regional conventions for the Southwest Liturgical Conference, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and broadcast on Radio Maria. Both UST's t Singers and the Palmer Episcopal adult choir, under Dr. Knapp's direction, have recorded commercially on the Gothic Records & Naxos labels. Knapp's choral discography has been regularly featured on NPR broadcasts over the last two decades.
Born in Alabama and raised in North Georgia, Dr. Knapp comes from a dedicated family of public school educators. He received the Master of Music and the Doctorate of Musical Arts from Rice University, and holds the Bachelor of Music from Vanderbilt University. In demand as a voice teacher, clinician, and conductor, Knapp has led vocal pedagogy workshops, conducted choral festivals, and taught masterclasses across the country. As a guest lecturer, more recently, Dr. Knapp served on the music faculty of the Shepherd School at Rice University leading the graduate seminar in vocal physiology & pedagogy, and he has been invited to give guest lectures on the practice of church music. Before joining the UST faculty, Dr. Knapp served on the music faculties of Sam Houston State University, Kenyon College, Rice University, and the Columbus School for Girls in Bexley, OH. As a baritone soloist Dr. Knapp has performed extensively in opera, oratorio, and recitals.
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications
- Director of Communications at Palmer
Dustin Jesudason is the Director of Communications at Palmer. He manages the graphic design, website, social media, marketing, and public relations for Palmer and produces all print materials in-house. Prior to working for the Episcopal Church, he worked in media relations in the oil and gas industry, as well as in fundraising & development for Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation and the Menil Collection. In addition, he still owns and operates a video production company producing both commercial and entertainment-based projects for clients, including The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). He studied video production and computer information systems management at Houston Christian University (previously Houston Baptist University).
He loves watching movies, listening to all types of music, and some might say, an unhealthy obsession with Star Wars. However, he does use the "force" to get his work done. The Communications Office is located in the Bishop Quinn room across the hall from St. Bede's Chapel. Stop by and say hi!
Jessica is a native of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She earned an Accounting degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2007. She worked in public accounting and corporate tax before moving to Houston with her husband at the end of 2007. Jessica worked for the Café Express restaurant chain for 6 years as the Accounting Manager. In 2013, Jessica took over as Controller at US LED, a LED lighting manufacturing company. Jessica joined the Palmer staff as Finance Manager in June of 2016. Jessica and her husband, Frank, currently reside in Cypress with their 4-year old daughter, Brooklyn. Jessica and her family are avid football fans, attending games often in support of the Texans and her beloved New Orleans Saints.
Job Titles:
- Organist & Artist - in - Residenc
- Palmer 's Artist
Ken Cowan, Palmer's Artist-in-Residence and Organist, is Associate Professor and head of the organ program at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. He has also served on the organ faculty of Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, New Jersey.
Ken has recorded on the Pro Organo, JAV, and Etheral recording labels, and many of his recordings and live performances have been featured on NPR. He received a Master of Music degree and Artist Diploma from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music in New Haven, Connecticut, and his Bachelor of Music degree from the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a church musician, he has held posts as Artist-in-Residence and Organist at Saint Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in New York City and as Assistant Organist at St. Clement's Episcopal Church in Philadelphia.
The Rev. Neil Alan Willard has been the Rector of Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas, since 2014. In the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, he has twice served as a member of the Board of the Episcopal Health Foundation. Previously he was the Rector of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Edina, Minnesota, for seven years and Associate Rector at Bruton Parish Episcopal Church in Williamsburg, Virginia, for six years. Before that he lived in South Carolina, serving congregations on Hilton Head Island and in Surfside Beach. He has also worked as Bishop's Clerk for the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia in Richmond.
Neil is a native of North Carolina, where he was baptized and raised in the Moravian Church. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University and Yale Divinity School. Neil is married to Carrie, and they have two kids, three rescue dogs, and one rescue cat.
Job Titles:
- Director of Children 's and Youth Ministries
Roger Hutchison is Director of Children's and Youth Ministries at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas. Roger joined the staff of Palmer in June of 2015.
Roger is the #1 Bestselling author and illustrator of six books, including, The Painting Table, My Favorite Color is Blue. Sometimes., and the upcoming Faces: A Love Story.
Following the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, Roger had the privilege of painting with children who witnessed this tragic event. The experience profoundly affected him and convinced him to serve those who grieve with his writing and art.
Roger received the Governor's Order of the Silver Crescent Award in 2014. The Order of the Silver Crescent is South Carolina's highest civilian honor for exemplary performance, contribution, and achievement within the community.
There is prayerful poetry woven through Roger's work, a gentle reverence in his tone and posture toward the heartbroken. It's Roger's ambition to use art, color, and poetic language to communicate love and promote healing and hope in today's hurting world.
Roger lives with his wife Kristin and daughter Riley just outside of Houston.
Ryan is a recently ordained priest diocese of Texas. She received her M.Div in 2013 and completed a Diploma in Anglican Studies in 2021. Ryan loves exploring ministry and theology on the edge and at the intersections of race, class, and gender/sexuality. In her free time Ryan enjoys exploring Houston, sitting with friends on patios, and any activity involving water. She also revels in the great joy of raising a young child.
Believing the magic and the joy that music can bring into peoples' lives, Valentina Qishan Huang is a passionate performer, collaborator, and teacher. Her most recent concert appearance was at the Piccolo Festival. Being a young organist, Valentina was one of the recipients of the E. Power Biggs scholarship in 2019 when the seed of pursuing organ as a profession was planted unconsciously in her heart. Valentina strives to become a well-rounded musician not only as a professional organist, pianist, but also a church musician. She strongly values the power and the influence of being a great church organist. Valentina holds degrees from Wesleyan College, Peabody Institute of Music, and Jacobs School of Music. Currently she is a doctoral student under the tutelage of Prof. Ken Cowan at the Shepherd School of Music.