The Old St. Paul’s Choir
About the Choir
The Old St. Paul’s Choir is the primary liturgical choir of the parish and is regarded as one of the finest choirs in the city. The choir leads singing at our 10:00 a.m. worship service during the program year (typically September through May). The choir also presents special concerts throughout the year, including the annual Christmas Concert. The choir is comprised of a 10-member professional core of singers, which is augmented by several auditioned volunteers from the parish. The choir is under the direction of Justin Weilnau, Minister of Music.
Recordings of the Choir
“Ubi Caritas” from Quatre Motets
Maurice Duruflé
E’en So, Lord Jesus
Paul Manz
Great Day
arr. Moses Hogan
Professional Choristers
Katie Chen
Katie Chen, soprano, has been a proud member of The Old St. Paul’s choir since 2014. Katie graduated from Loyola University Maryland with a Master’s degree in Clinical Professional Counseling in 2021 and she received a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a minor in Sociology from Northern Illinois University in 2007. Previously, Katie performed with The Singers: Minnesota Choral Artists, North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir, Duke Chapel Choir, Asheville Symphony Chorus, Asheville Lyric Opera, Young Victorian Theatre Company, Bridge Ensemble, and Handel Choir of Baltimore. Katie works as a nature informed psychotherapist when she isn’t singing, and enjoys hiking, playing piano, and gardening in her freetime.
Nathan Hawsey
Nathan Hawsey is a young, rising tenor whose repertoire covers a broad spectrum of genres and characters. Bach to Puccini, he has appeared in Roles such as Basilio in Le Nozze di Figaro, Prunier in La Rondine, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni,, Jupiter in Semele, Dorvil in La scala di seta, Vašek in Prodaná nevěsta, and Private Sam in the world premiere of Urban Legend, to name a few. Mr. Hawsey has also appeared as a soloist in major works such as Bach’s St. John Passion, Magnificat and Mozart’s Coronation Mass. As an ensemble member, Mr. Hawsey has performed in the chorus of La Rondine (Peabody Opera), La cenerentola and La Boheme (Annapolis Opera), the staged premiere of Pride and Prejudice (Peabody Opera), Don Carlo, Un ballo in maschera, and Falstaff (Maryland Lyric Opera). Mr. Hawsey was most recently seen as Monostatos in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (Annapolis Opera), and as the tenor soloist in Rossini’s Stabat Mater (Davidson College). Originally from Virginia, Mr. Hawsey currently resides in Baltimore, MD. He holds degrees in both Vocal Performance and Music Education.
Stephen O’Connor
Stephen has been a member of the Old St. Paul’s worship choir bass section since 2014. During that time, Stephen has also served the church as a professional recording engineer, capturing holiday concerts and special performances, assembling online worship videos for the duration of the pandemic, and consulting on the installation of the streaming system. Working as a media professional for Johns Hopkins University, he enjoys all-things-recording and spends his free time reading about recording techniques and building audio circuits in his workshop. In his free time, Stephen enjoys playing with his Italian greyhound, Lily, playing Switch games with his niece, and cruising the city with camera-in-hand. Stephen lives with his partner, Sara Woodard, in Towson, Maryland.
Ashley Kitchelt
Ashley graduated from UMD College Park with her Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance and Bachelors of Music Education. She currently teaches in Howard County as a high school choral director. She also sings and assistant conducts with the Washington Master Chorale. Ashley is originally from the Eastern Shore, where she grew up with her father, mother, and sister, Tara. She currently resides in Baltimore with her partner and two cats.
Volunteer Choristers
Page Bitner
Page is a dedicated avocational choral singer, who is passionate about the transformative power of music. She discovered her love for sacred choral music at a young age, participating in her church’s junior choir. Prior to joining the choir at Old St. Paul’s, Page sang in her college choir, various church choirs, as well as the Annapolis Chorale and Chamber Chorus. She currently performs with Live Arts Maryland’s women’s ensemble, Cantori.
Nancy Brown
Nancy is a volunteer member of the Old St. Paul’s choir, which she first joined in 2019. Before St. Paul’s, she volunteered with the choir at the Church of the Little Flower in Berkeley Heights, NJ. In addition to singing, she has played clarinet since 1999, and saxophone and bagpipes since 2004. Nancy moved to Baltimore in 2016, and calls the Charm City home along with her husband Timothy, and their cat, Squeaky, and corgi, Pippin.
Alison Dyszel
Originally from Schnecksville, PA, I graduated with my MSPAS from DeSales University in 2019 and moved to Baltimore to begin my work as a physician assistant in orthopedic spine surgery at Johns Hopkins. Upon moving to Baltimore, I found a home at Old St. Paul’s church and I joined the choir as a volunteer alto. I have always had a passion for music. I started studying piano when I was 5 years old, and I have been singing in church and local choral ensembles my entire life. I believe music plays an important role in our spiritual journeys, and I am honored to sing with my fellow choristers at Old St. Paul’s. When not at church, you may see me singing with the Handel Choir of Baltimore, playing piano, dancing at Peabody, running around Charm City, or hiking outdoors.
Timothy Hinson
Timothy is a volunteer member of the Old St. Paul’s choir, which he first joined in 2019. Before St. Paul’s, he volunteered with the choirs at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, NC, and St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, NC. His primary instrument is the bagpipes, which he began playing in 2000. Timothy moved to Baltimore in 2016, and calls the Charm City home along with his wife Nancy and their cat, Squeaky, and corgi, Pippin.