MURRAY C. WALKER has been the Director of Music and Choirmaster at Calvary Episcopal Church, Santa Cruz since 1996. A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Mr. Walker holds music degrees in choral conducting from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver and California State University, Long Beach. He is retired from a forty-year career as a music educator, most recently at the York School in Monterey. His singing career has included the Vancouver Chamber Choir and the choirs of (the former) St. Paul’s Cathedral of Los Angeles, Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver, Christ Church Cathedral in Montreal and Norwich Cathedral in England. He served as conductor of the Santa Cruz County Youth Symphony from 1988-1993. mwalker@calvarysantacruz.org
KATE SAPHIR ALM, Organist, served as organist at Calvary from 1993-2003 and currently has served since 2022. She earned her Colleague of the American Guild of Organists certificate while first serving at Calvary, and Episcopal Church Publishing published her Freedom Mass, a Mass In Gospel Style in 2003. She holds a degree in Piano Performance from San Francisco Conservatory and maintains a vibrant teaching practice: Sapphire Suzuki Piano. She founded, regularly performs and produces concerts for, directs the Harmony Youth choir, and is the President of the Nonprofit Musical Soulmates which nurtures the common good by bringing community together.
ksaphir@calvarysantacruz.org
2024-2025 CHORAL SCHOLARS
GAVIN PINNOW, bass, is an undergraduate student at UCSC, graduating with degrees in both music and history December 2024. He has studied voice with UCSC’s Sheila Willey since 2020 and performed multiple productions with the opera program. He is grateful for the opportunity to engage with the community and enrich his musical experience with Calvary’s choir.
SHRUTI SINGH, alto, is an undergraduate student pursuing a major in cognitive science and a minor in music at UCSC. She has studied choral singing for ten years with the National Children’s Chorus, and is currently in the UCSC Chamber Singers ensemble. She is excited to sing in the Calvary Choir and to get more involved with the community here.
LONDON SWANSON, soprano