Directors
Currently, we have three directors; James Loeffler, the Director of Music Ministry, JoAnne Pritchett, the Director of the Wee Folk School based at Evangelical Lutheran Church, and Tony Magturo, the Director of Children, Youth & Family Ministry.Jim Loeffler
Jim Loeffler is Director of Music Ministry at Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Frederick, Maryland, a position he has held since July of 1997. At Evangelical, Jim oversees the entirety of Music Ministry, performs all organ duties, and directs 6 of the church's 7 musical ensembles. He came from a similar position at Trinity Lutheran, (LC-MS) Evansville, Indiana.A native of Evansville, Jim holds the Bachelor of Music degree in Church Music from Valparaiso University and the Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Illinois.
He has studied organ under Pamela Johnson, Douglas Reed, and Martin Jean. In addition, Jim has been a harpsichord student of William Eifrig and William Heiles and has studied jazz with Billy Foster.
As a composer, Jim has written numerous works for organ, choir, brass, and handbells. Most recently he had 4 sets of organ variations published by Darcey Press in a collection entitled 83 Musical Gifts.
For six years Jim was a chorister with the Choral Arts Society of Washington. As a member of this ensemble, he sung under such notable conductors as Robert Shaw, Christopher Hogwood, Leonard Slatkin, Yuri Termikanov, Eiji Oue, and vocalist Bobby McFerrin. He has been a soloist with CASW for such events as the Annual Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, which is broadcast on National Public Radio, the world premier of John Corigliano's "Dylan Thomas Trilogy" at Carnegie Hall and Augusta Reed Thomas' "Ring Out, Wild Bells."
Currently Jim holds professional memberships in the American Guild of Organists where he has earned the Fellow's Certificate (F.A.G.O.), the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, and the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians.
Along with his wife Ann, Jim and their children Aaron, Sam, and Sarah currently reside in New Market, Maryland.
For information on these recordings contact Jim directly at mailto:LoefflerFive@aol.com
JoAnne Pritchett
JoAnne Pritchett, the Director of the Wee Folk School, runs the fully accredited school for Preschool and Kindergarten age children located on the property of Evangelical Lutheran Church. JoAnne and her team of teachers and helpers keep the wee folks at the Wee Folk school learning and growing. Only the third director in the school's twenty year history, JoAnne has been a member of ELC for many years and has also been a member of the WFS family for a long time as "Miss JoAnne" our kindergarten teacher. We are blessed by her service in this leadership role!
Tony Magturo