Gregory A. Glenn honored for dedication to arts

Intermountain Catholic

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Gregory A. Glenn's face lights up when the subject is the Madeleine Choir School, which he founded, the Madeleine Choir, which he directs, or any of the arts and humanities events that are hosted by the Cathedral of the Madeleine. ?We must care for our institutions,? he said. Glenn is the 2008 recipient of the Madeleine Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts and Humanities. IC photos by Barbara S. Lee

SALT LAKE CITY — The music is stunningly beautiful, and its a surprise to many that it comes from such young people. "That is the magic of the Madeleine Choir School," said Gregory A. Glenn in an April 30 interview with the Intermountain Catholic. "The children’s voices as they assist at the Mass have a certain fragility, an innocence. They’re singing music that is very demanding, and people think these voices can’t possibly achieve this level of competence. There’s a magic about that."

Glenn is a master at blending the young voices of the Madeleine Choir School Choristers and the more mature voices of the adult Madeleine Cathedral Choir. He has also been the inspiration behind the Madeleine Festival of the Arts, and dozens of organ concerts. Glenn fills the Cathedral of the Madeleine with remarkable music for simple, daily Masses and large diocesan celebrations.

On May 25, Glenn will receive the 2008 Madeleine Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts and Humanities, for which he said he is "deeply honored. I never expected this. I recognize that the work I do is made possible by many factors and many people, and it is in their honor that I will accept the award.

Glenn said he is deeply indebted to the vision of Msgr. Francis Mannion, rector of the Cathedral of the Madeleine when the Madeleine Choir School opened in 1966, and Father Joseph M. Mayo, current rector, for his support.

"Also, there were many early teachers and parents; certainly Betsy Hunt, our first principal and parents like Talitha Day, who have done so much," he said.

Glenn is in the process of planning and facilitating a trip to Spain for the choir school choristers, and isn’t the least bit intimidated about traveling to Europe with children. "The children travel well, and after a lot of practice, we put them on a rigorous schedule, and they fall into it.

"I see how their eyes and minds are opened to a whole new world," he said. "They aren’t too young to appreciate the trip, and I see incredible growth in them, so I remain committed to taking the choristers on tour. It’s also good for people in Europe to see young people from America who are so accomplished."

The Madeleine Choir School began with an after school program in 1990. In 1996 the school opened in the basement of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, where they stayed, bursting at the seams, for six years. On Dec. 1, 2002, the school moved to its current location, the former Rowland Hall-St. Mark’s School. Today, Glenn said, the school is on a fantastic campus, but one that needs some restoration.

"We are working on a capital campaign to restore the main building, Jacqueline Erbin Hall, which is in need of a seismic upgrade. Then we need a place for athletic activities, so a field house is in the planning stages."

Glenn is committed to the institutions of the Cathedral of the Madeleine and the Madeleine Choir School.

"Really, the Church needs its institutions," he said. "We do what we do in the arts and humanities because we have the institution of the choir and the choir school. Performing at conventions and other events are important, but they are not where our focus needs to be. Our focus needs to be on the school, on the choir, and on the cathedral. Those are the important institutions."

The formation of adult voices isn’t nearly as important as the formation of children and young people, Glenn said. "These students are our leadership for the future. The Madeleine Choir School’s first students are just at the post-graduate level and we have many students we can be very proud of. Jessica French just received her Master’s Degree from Yale in organ performance, and Marc Day has completed his Bachelor’s Degree and has a full scholarship at the Manhattan School of Music. Evan Shinners has graduated from Juilliard and plans to study in Europe for a year. I feel fairly certain Marc and Jessica will work somewhere in the Church."

Still young at 47, Glenn said he gives what he can to the school and the Cathedral of the Madeleine. "I bring all my faults and difficulties, and I try to do my best."

Still, his goals are big. A full restoration of the school will expand its student body from 240 students to close to 400. He thinks about how to expand the cathedral’s services out to the rest of the diocese, and he has a deep concern for the growing number of Hispanic children who don’t have access to a Catholic education.

"They have so much rich culture to share with us," Glenn said. "We have some scholarship money available for them, but there is still so much work to do. So much more remains.

"Cathedrals are wonderful places to gather, to educate, and to present the arts, literature, and prayer. So much needs to be done."

The Madeleine Award Dinner will take place May 25 at the New Yorker. Call 328-8941 for further information.