Mr. Patrick Moran and Mr. Brandon Straub are thrilled to announce the appointment of two new members of the music team at St. Paul’s Choir School and Parish!
NARA LEE joins St. Paul’s as Associate Director of Music. Originally from South Korea, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Church Music from Seoul Theological University and studied composition at the Seoul Jazz Academy. Mr. Lee also holds a Master of Music in Organ and Sacred Music and a Performance Diploma from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he has completed coursework for a Doctor of Music degree in Organ and Sacred Music.
“I believe teaching young people is crucial for preserving and developing sacred music,” says Nara, “and I eagerly look forward to working with these talented boys daily in such a gorgeous space. I am incredibly excited to contribute meaningfully to St. Paul’s Choir School and Parish, as well as to the legacy of traditional church music.”
As a graduate student, Mr. Lee has focused on organ studies and explored sacred music and improvisation. He also taught secondary organ lessons as an Associate Instructor in the IU organ department and served as an accompanist for the Bloomington Chamber Singers. He achieved second place in the American Guild of Organists National Competition in Organ Improvisation (NCOI) during the 2022 AGO National Convention in Seattle. Last year, Mr. Lee and his wife, Jihye Choi, were awarded the 2023 AGO Student Commissioning Project as one of four teams. His sacred choral works are regularly published in Korea and performed by Korean church choirs worldwide.
Mr. Lee has served as an Organ Scholar at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Nashville, TN and Assistant Organist at Trinity Episcopal Church in Indianapolis, IN. In the summer of 2022, he participated as an organist in the Trinity Church Choir’s residencies at Salisbury Cathedral and St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
JULIA JANOWSKI joins St. Paul’s as Director of Admissions and Music Administrator. A versatile mezzo soprano, educator, and conductor, Ms. Janowski began singing in choir and cantoring at St. Peter’s Cathedral in her native Marquette, MI when she was in first grade.
“I have loved being a part of the St. Paul's Parish community these past two years singing in the Schola and am excited to be more involved with the community here and contribute to the mission of the school,” says Julia. “As a Catholic, artist, and educator, I am very invested in fostering the consistent Catholic education and excellent musical instruction at the Choir School, and how that contributes to the larger faith community through sacred music.”
Ms. Janowski holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Michigan State University and has taught middle and high school choral music in both Michigan and Texas. This spring, she completed a Master of Music in Opera Performance from Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where she also served as the lead Graduate Assistant and Peer Advisor at the Berklee Career Center. Notable credits with Boston Conservatory Opera include Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro and Hermia in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Ms. Janowski is spending the summer in Schroon Lake, NY as an Emerging Artist at Seagle Music Festival, singing the role of Ruby in Cold Mountain and in the ensembles for Brigadoon and Sweeney Todd. She has been a dedicated alto in the St. Paul’s Schola since 2022.
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