James Kennerley is appointed eleventh municipal organist for the city of Portland, Maine, one of only two cities remaining in the United States with a municipal organist (the other being San Diego, California). The appointment is effective January 1, 2018, following the retirement of Ray Cornils, the longest-serving municipal organist for Portland since the position was created in 1912. Portland is home to the Kotzschmar Organ in Merrill Auditorium.
Kennerley is and will continue as organist and choirmaster for St. Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church, New York, New York. He was previously organist and choirmaster for the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, also of New York City. A native of Exeter, UK, he studied organ at Cambridge University, and served as organ scholar at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.
For further information, see “In the Wind . . . .” in the November issue of The Diapason (pages 16–17).
(photo credit: Christopher Duggan)
