Ministries
Music
What We Provide
Worship Leadership
Our talented musicians lead the congregation in worship, creating an uplifting and spiritual atmosphere for all services at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral.
Special Music & Concerts
We host a variety of concerts and special music events open to the public, showcasing both local and renowned artists to enrich our community’s cultural life.
Ceremonial Music
From weddings to funerals and ordinations, our musicians provide beautiful and meaningful music to accompany life’s significant moments.
Music Education
We offer comprehensive music education programs for children and adults, including lessons, choir participation, and a summer music camp for young enthusiasts.
Meet Our Leadership Team
Our dedicated leadership team at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral is committed to fostering a welcoming and spiritually enriching environment for all. Each member brings unique talents and a deep passion for our mission.
Organist/Choirmaster
derrick@stmarkscathedral.net
Derrick Meador
Derrick Meador is an organist and conductor based in Shreveport, Louisiana. He has been heard in many leading recital venues across the United States and Europe including the Świnoujście International Music Festival (Poland), National City Christian Church (Washington, D.C.), St. James Cathedral (Toronto, Ontario), and recent performances in Houston, Seattle, and Syracuse, among others. A champion of living composers, Meador has commissioned many works by New York-based composer Buck McDaniel. Since 2021, he has served as Organist & Choirmaster at Saint Mark’s Cathedral, where he leads an historic music program rooted in the Anglican choral tradition. Meador received his Master of Music degree from the University of Houston under Dr. Robert Bates, and the Bachelor of Music degree from William Carey University under Prof. Kathy Vail. He has also studied with Dr. Jeffrey R. McLelland, harpsichord with Dr. Matthew Dirst, and received private coaching from Dame Gillian Weir in London.
Associate Organist/Choirmaster
Danny Gamble
Danny Gamble, Associate Organist and Choirmaster, is a Shreveport native and a graduate of Centenary College where he studied organ with William Teague. His business career took him to San Francisco then New Orleans where he was Librarian at The Times-Picayune and Organist and Choir Director for two Methodist churches.
After retiring from the newspaper he returned to Shreveport to help care for his mother. He joined the St. Mark’s Choir and was later invited to serve as chapel pianist for the Cathedral School. He considers it an honor to play the organ and assist in leading services.
Children’s Choir Assistant
Leslye Gilchrist
Leslye Gilchrist, a Caddo Parish teacher and librarian with over 25 years experience, began her musical education starting in the third grade as a chorister under William C. Teague. Over the years she has continued to further her musical education through collegiate and private voice lessons as well as participation in choirs. In addition to singing at St. Mark’s, Leslye sings with the High Holy Days choir at B’Nai Zion and has sung with other church choir and musical groups such as Prisma and the Shreveport Opera Chorus. Her participation in numerous Royal School of Church Music Summer courses helped develop both her musical skills and her ability to lead children’s music programs. Over the years, she has led music programs for Vacation Bible School, assisted with the St. Mark’s Children’s Choir and Evensong Choir, taught songs to young children in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and helped direct Summer Music Camps. Embracing the RSCM motto of “Psalam spiritu et mente”–“I will sing with the spirit and with the understanding also.” (1 Corinthians 14:15)–Leslye believes that music education is key to the vitality of the church. She looks forward to helping a new generation of choristers live into the RSCM motto and discover a love of singing challenging and theologically meaningful music.
Children’s Choir Assistant
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Summer Chapman
Summer Chapman, Soprano, is a native of Monroe, LA. She studied Vocal Performance with Dr. Gale Odom at Centenary College, and received a BA in Music and MS in Communicative Disorders from The University of Louisiana at Monroe.
She enjoys singing sacred and secular solo repertoire as well as choral music, including performances with The Texas Voices and Prisma Vocal Ensemble. Summer has sung with numerous churches across North Louisiana and Dallas and looks forward to joining St. Mark’s music ministry!
FAQ
How To Join Our Choir
Please contact our Choirmaster, Derrick Meador to learn more about becoming a part of our choir program! We are always in need of new singers and would welcome you into our group!
(318) 226-4038
derrick@stmarkscathedral.net
Explore
Travel With Our Choir
We frequently offer our voices outside St. Mark’s Cathedral, traveling to churches and cathedrals in England and Scotland, as well as the US. Our travels abroad are organized and managed by internationally recognized touring companies.
Cathedral Choir
Adult Choir
Schedule
Wed Rehearsal: 6:00pm – 7:45pm (after Wednesday Night Dinner* *Nursery Provided )
Sun: 9:30am Rehearsal & 10:30am Service
The Cathedral Choir sings for the 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday mornings. The choir is open to adults, and sings a vast variety of repertoire from Gregorian chant to 21th century sacred music. Music reading skills are desirable, but not necessary to join this group. The Cathedral Choir sings every Sunday of the year and rehearses on Wednesday evenings during the school year. To join the Cathedral Choir, please contact the Canon for Cathedral Music, Derrick Meador.
Ages 7-14
Boys & Girls Choir
Time
Children ages 7-14. Practice Wednesdays 4:15 to 5:30 pm
Location
Choir Room
The choir is dedicated to the highest musical standards, so educating and forming young people through music, and to enriching the cultural life of Shreveport. The Boys and Girls Choir sings Choral Evensong on Sunday evenings during the school year.
St. Mark’s Cathedral offers free, professional music education to choristers that make a full commitment to the rigorous program. In addition, to offering unique musical opportunities, the choir program coordinates monthly social and enrichment events for choristers at no cost. Choristers perform weekly with professional singers and sing major choral works with orchestra every year.
Celebrating Joy
Bell Ringers
St. Mark’s has the only peal of change ringing bells in Louisiana. Bellringing celebrates the joy of weddings and victories, intones of sadness of deaths and funerals, and summons people to church. The casual listener immediately recognizes that some bells play hymns, songs, and melodies. These are not change ringing bells. Change ringing bells swing on a full wheel to its side that gives a person more control when striking it. These bells produce no recognizable tunes, but are rung in orderly sequences. It is dependant upon a group of people. Only one person can ring one bell. Therefore if six bells are ringing, there need to be six people in the tower.
Our eight change ringing bells at St. Mark’s were founded at Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London, England. They have been in the tower since 2010. The largest change ringing bell weighs 1,050 pounds. These bells are a part of a 17 bell chime.
Our Organ
Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company | Opus 1308 (1955)
To learn more about our world-class organ, please visit the Organ Historical Society.
