John Cantrell
St. Michael's Episcopal Church
New York, New York
(212) 222-2700
jcantrell@saintmichaelschurch.org

John Edward Cantrell, organist and choirmaster of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Manhattan, is known to his colleagues as a "musician's musician." As an organist, pianist, and multi-instrumentalist, Mr. Cantrell has toured the United States, Ireland, England, and Western Europe, performing not only as a solo concert artist, but also as an ensemble accompanist, and with jazz and pop groups that entertained audiences of 3,000 people per show.  As a champion of 20th century music, Mr. Cantrell, along with an ensemble created for the sole purpose of performing contemporary works, was invited to participate in the "Meer den Worten" festival in Holland.  While there, they premiered new works and collaborated with other musicians and writers from around the world.  As a composer, Mr. Cantrell has works commissioned by the Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts, Christ Church Cathedral of Louisville, and film and multimedia projects, funded by the NEA, specializing in Arts Education for Children. 

Mr. Cantrell holds a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from Yale University and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Louisville. His teachers have included noted performers and scholars Thomas Murray, Melvin Dickinson, and Martin Jean. Mr. Cantrell has also received private coaching sessions with artists Susan Landale, Charles Kriegbaum, and Ludger Lohman

…wizardly playing…
Album Review; Classic Records – Love Jones, Live in Hollywood

…John Cantrell’s accompaniment of Raymond Ward’s poem “Simple Pleasures,” in the words of one critic, “managed to invoke, in ten fingers, Manhattan itself.”
Prism (Journal of the Institute of Sacred Music, Yale University)

...a sensitive and profound musician...Cantrell brings freshness and vitality to his music.... a joy to work with, and he enjoys exploring music beyond the printed page.
Frank Heller III, Founder & Artistic Director, Voces Novae