Two inducted into Music Education Alumni Hall of Fame

Westminster Choir College of Rider University’s Music Education Department recently inducted Lynnel Joy Jenkins ’94 and James D. Moyer ’86 into the Westminster Music Education Alumni Hall of Fame.  The new award recognizes Westminster Choir College alumni who have made a substantial contribution to the field of music education and who have shown strong support for Westminster’s students and its program.

The awards were presented by Music Education Department Chair Al D. Holcomb at a luncheon following a Music Education seminar focusing on using iPads in the classroom.

Lynnel Jenkins is in her fifth season as artistic director of the Princeton Girlchoir and choral teacher at the Timberlane Middle School of the Hopewell Valley Regional School District in Pennington, N.J.  Her varied conducting and teaching experience ranges from the elementary to collegiate level. She has served as assistant professor of Music Education at the Westminster Choir College and conductor of the Resident Training Choir at the American Boychoir School. She has lectured and conducted in China, Hong Kong, Iceland and South Africa. She also has served as guest conductor for numerous Honor Choirs, All-State Choirs and Choral Festivals in the United States and as a clinician for several professional music conferences. She has degrees from Westminster Choir College of Rider University and Temple University, and at both institutions was awarded the Elaine Brown Conducting Award. She is a candidate for a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at the University of Arizona.

Her contributions to Westminster’s Music Education program include hosting a Westminster Practicum Team at the Timberlane Middle School, welcoming Westminster students to her rehearsals with Princeton Girlchoir and mentoring Westminster students and alumni through the Conducting Fellowship with the Princeton Girlchoir, a fellowship that allows Westminster students and alumni to gain experience with a Community Youth Chorus.

“We celebrate Lynnel’s professional accomplishments and support for the Music Education students at Westminster and the role model she provides for them as a life-long learner and the beautiful spirit that she brings to the world,” Dr. Holcomb said as he presented her with her award.

James Moyer is a veteran teacher of 28 years and is in his 15th year as director of choral activities at Pennsbury High School in Lower Makefield Township, Pa., where he also serves as the coordinator of vocal/choral music K-12 for the Pennsbury School District.

Additionally, he is the director of music at the Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church and artistic director of the Pennsbury Community Chorus.  He has been active in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) as repertoire and standards chair, Virginia state president (Virginia), and he has supervised multiple convention responsibilities at the Divisional and National levels.  He is also a contributor of choral music, book, and recording reviews to The Choral Journal.  Choirs under his direction have performed in major concert halls throughout the United States and across Europe.

He has served Westminster Choir College and the Music Education program in many ways, which include hosting 12 Westminster Student Teachers at Pennsbury High School and countless Practicum groups.  He has also served as a guest lecturer for many Music Education classes and has mentored six conducting interns with Pennsbury Community Chorus.  A member of Westminster Alumni Council, he is also a class agent (with his wife Kathryn) and served as an Alumni Ambassador.  Nine of his former students have followed in his footsteps and attended Westminster Choir College.  He has also coordinated several summer courses at the Choir College and has also led many summer hymn sings and choral reading sessions.

He holds a Bachelor of Music in voice/organ from Westminster Choir College and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from The University of Oklahoma.

“We are so very fortunate to have Jim Moyer as an ambassador for the department, college and university,” said Dr. Holcomb in presenting the award.  “His incredible accomplishments, collaborative spirit and generosity toward Westminster Choir College and Rider University are unsurpassed.”