Music Ministry
Jim Picken
Jim Picken is a native Calgarian, son of a native Calgarian. His spirtual roots are in the Anglican Church, but if you dig deeper there is Presbyterian in his background. At least three of four grandparents were Presbyterians, and one ancestor was a minster in New Brunswick. Jim grew up at St. Philip's Church, Calgary, before becoming assistant organist at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer in his teens. He served as a camp counsellor at Camp Kananaskis for one summer, and attended the 1970 Winter Course at Sorrento Centre. He was also organist and choir director at St. Peter's and at St. John the Evangelist, Inglewood.
Jim studied piano from an early age. His early musical training was with Mary Harangozo, Kay Voss, Robert Bell and Peter Turner in Calgary. In 1971, he went to Victoria to study with Robin Wood. He completed a B. Mus. in Piano Performance at the University of Victoria in 1975, meanwhile earning an Associate Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music (ARCT) in 1973 and a Licentiate Diploma from the Western Board of Music (L. Mus.) in 1974. While in Victoria Jim was organist at Grace Lutheran Church. For serveral consecutive summers he made retreats at the Taizé Community in France.
During two years back in Calgary, Jim taught piano at Mount Royal College. Then in August 1977 he went to England to study theology. He enrolled at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, Oxford, where he earned a B.A. in 1979 and the Oxford Certifcate in Theology in 1980. In that year, he was ordained in the Durham Diocese, serving as a curate to the Parish of Jarrow. September 1983 saw his entry into the novitiate of the Society of St. Francis, a community which he served for ten years as priest, musician, and novice guardian.
Returning to Calgary again in February 1993, Jim did a short interim ministry at the Blood Reserve (Cardston), then joined the staff of the Cathedral as Pastoral Assistant. In 1995, he took over musical responsibilities as DIrector of Music, leading a men-and-boys choir and initiating a women's choir. He collaborated with Cathedral staff and volunteers to begin a weekly noon-hour recital series, which still continues. During this period he joined together with friends to begin 'Integrity', a support and fellowship for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Christians and seekers.
Since coming to Knox in September 2000, Jim has been studying organ with Neil Cockburn, teaching piano students, accompanying, and performing organ concert programs. He earned his ARCT in Organ in 2002, and has recorded two CD'S or organ music. For information on Jim's recordings please visit www.jamespicken.ca.
Paul Grindlay, Conductor
Paul Grindlay has sung in choirs since he was nine years old, when he started with the choir of his local parish church in London, England. After moving to Canada and completing a zoology degree at UBC, he returned to choral singing with such notable ensembles as The Phoenix Chamber Choir, The Vancouver Cantata Singers, The Vancouver Chamber Choir and Musica Intima. He was a member of the 1990 National Youth Choir and the 1991 World Youth Choir. Paul has studied and worked with many distinguished voice teachers, coaches and conductors, and has recorded CD's for NAXOS Records, Marquis and Toccata Classics. A man of broad musical tastes, Paul performs, conducts, teaches, writes and arranges music in many styles, plays the trombone, hand drums and piano.
He holds a degree in music (vocal/opera) and a degree in Zoology, both from the University of British Columbia. He has also studied at the Britten-Pears School (Suffolk, UK), Steans Institute (Chicago, USA), and the Banff School for the Arts (Alberta, Canada). He has particpated in conducting courses offered by the Toronto Children's Chorus (with Jean Ashworth Bartle and Henry Leck) and with the Vancouver Chamber Choir (Jon Washburn).
Paul was the Artistic Director of the Calgary Boys Choir between January 2004 and July 2007. He is currently an adjunct music professor at Rocky Mountain College, the conductor of Calgary's "SuperSonic Men's Choir" (which he founded in 2007), co-director of music at Knox Presbyterian Church and Artistic Director of the Airdrie Community Choir. He is a founder member of "VoiceScapes" - a professional vocal collective - and "The Buzz" - a men's a cappella quartet. He is in demand as a performer, voice teacher, repertoire coach, guest conductor, clinician and arranger. He serves on the board of directors for the Alberta Choral Federation, the Pro Arts Society and the Calgary Bach Festival Society.
He is featured on three recordings for the NAXOS label with the Arcadia Baroque Ensemble: Purcell's Tempest, Charpentier's Noels and Christmas Noels and Christmas Motets, and Cantatas by Buxtehude. He has also recorded a Praetorius Chrismtas Vespers for Marquis and an all-Kapsberger disc for Toccata Classics.