Dear Members of the Music Director Search Committee,
I am writing to express my interest in the Music Director position at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. As a cantor, conductor, and liturgist, my vocation has been shaped by a deep commitment to sacred music that serves the liturgy with both pastoral sensitivity and artistic integrity. I am excited by the opportunity to bring that work into a Catholic parish context, particularly one with a strong and active music ministry.
In my current role as Director of Music Ministries at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Tucson, I lead a comprehensive, multi-ensemble program supporting weekly worship and the full arc of the church year. My work centers on aligning music closely with the liturgy, fostering congregational song, and cultivating ensembles that function as both musical and spiritual communities. Across my previous positions, I have consistently built and sustained choral and instrumental programs while mentoring cantors and lay leaders, shaping music that is both accessible and deeply rooted in tradition .
My undergraduate studies in sacred music focused extensively on the development of Roman Catholic liturgical practice, particularly the 20th-century reforms surrounding music. I engaged closely with primary conciliar and post-conciliar documents, especially those emerging from the Second Vatican Council, examining their theological and practical implications for sacred music. This included study of the evolving role of the cantor, vernacular liturgy, congregational participation, and the balance between preserving the Church’s musical heritage and embracing new compositional forms. This academic foundation continues to shape my approach, grounding my work in a clear understanding of the cantor as a leader of sung prayer and of music as integral to full, conscious, and active participation in the liturgy.
Alongside my parish work, I serve as Chorus Director for the Tucson Interfaith Choir and Orchestra, engaging sacred repertoire across traditions in a collaborative, community-based setting. Separately, through my work with choral ensembles at the University of Arizona, I conducted a performance of Williams Byrd’s Ave verum corpus, which was recently featured on Public Radio East’s program The Choral Tradition. This recording reflects my commitment to historically informed performance and my familiarity with Roman Catholic Latin motets, particularly from the Renaissance tradition. I value the way this repertoire continues to shape prayer, offering a sense of continuity with the Church’s musical heritage.
I also remain actively engaged in broader conversations around sacred music and worship. This summer, I will present a lecture at the Presbyterian Association of Musicians Worship & Music Conference in Montreat, North Carolina, exploring the use of Duke Ellington’s music in worship, particularly within the Reformed tradition. This work reflects my interest in how diverse musical idioms can be thoughtfully and theologically integrated into liturgical contexts, always in service of the text, the assembly, and the worshiping moment.
My academic training in choral conducting at the University of Arizona, combined with a background in sacred music, has equipped me to work fluently across styles, from chant and polyphony to contemporary liturgical music. Just as importantly, my experience has taught me the importance of collaboration with clergy and parish staff in crafting liturgies that are cohesive, intentional, and pastorally responsive.
I approach the work of music ministry not simply as a profession, but as a calling to support the sung prayer of the Church. I would welcome the opportunity to contribute to the life of St. Thomas More by building on its existing strengths while continuing to deepen its musical and liturgical expression.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
William Clayton Whittington
Media
Below you will find a curated selection of video recordings that represent the breadth of my work in music and ministry. These include examples of choral conducting, handbell direction, contemporary worship leadership, music from the community of Taizé, and Psalm chanting (in this case, from the United Methodist Hymnal). Many of the organ and hymn-based recordings were created during the COVID-19 pandemic for online worship, and they reflect both the adaptability and the pastoral care required in that unique season of ministry. This media portfolio is offered as a glimpse into the diverse musical language through which I strive to shape meaningful, authentic, and spiritually grounded worship.