Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill's New Choirmaster

As summer gives way to fall, so too will the give way to a new choir director. 

Recently accepting a similar position at Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, current choirmaster Mark Anderson will be handing the reins off to Donald Nally, director of The Crossing, one of the church's groups in residence. 

Nally has been affiliated with the church since the 90's when he served as chorus master of the opera.  An old friend of Anderson's (the two studied together at Westminster Choir College), he said the transition is nothing if not bittersweet. 

“I've known this church and this choir for a long time,” said Nally.  “I just moved back to Philadelphia from Chicago.  It's kind of weird to move back here and all of a sudden I find one of my closest friends is moving.  I know everyone is sad to see him go.  He's been there a long time - just a wonderful, wonderful man.” 

Cynthia Jarvis echoed Nally's sentiment. 

“Mark and I have worked together for fifteen years,” she said.  “We're all very sad, yet very excited for the great opportunity he has before him.  The window opening, of course, is that David Nally will become our director of music.  He's known by many people in our congregation and we're excited to have him here.”

Although most of the church's music groups are on break for the summer, Nally believes it will be business as usual come September. 

“The first choir will start back singing in the church after summer hiatus on September 11th - we'll be doing a 10th anniversary service for 9/11 at the regular worship,” he said.  “We're always going to be planning new things.”