The John Ellis Endowment for Liturgical Music is an independent non-profit organization, which was created to honor and commemorate organist and church musician John Ellis. Located in Missoula, Montana, the non-profit sponsors choral and organ concerts, promotes interest in liturgical music, and contributes to the creation of a new generation of musicians through music internships.
Over the past few years we have hosted the Vienna Boys Choir, Chanticleer, and New York Polyphony in concerts for our greater community, and our John Ellis Interns have left us to go on to become church music specialists for all denominations. They are the light of our future.
Through the financial help of the Butterfly Grants developed by Holy Spirit's Social Concerns committee, we produced a CD that is being used specifically for hospice situations. It seems to have taken off on its own wings and is now being used for meditation, sleep and to alleviate the stresses of our hectic world. The board agreed that it would be inappropriate to sell the CD, so we have been donating it: first to all hospice facilities in Montana and next to any person who has a need. Generous, kind people who love this music have donated funds in order to keep this project viable. To date CDs are now in use from California to Maine!
CDs are free, for distribution to palliative care facilities and hospice patients, wherever needed. Donations are always welcome to help us keep this program going. If you would like a CD, please send an email with your mailing address to . Request a CD.
The Board of Directors:
- Dr. Nancy Cooper, Artistic Director
- Jeannie Warner, President
- Sue Talbot, Secretary
- A'Lisa Scott, Treasurer
- Bruce Bowler
- Gary Bowman
- Don Gisselbeck
- Rev. Terri Grotzinger
- Lance Collister
- Gary Clark
- Steven Hesla
Our Artistic Director
Dr. Nancy Cooper
Nancy teaches organ, music theory and performance at The University of Montana School of Music. She is the choral director and organist at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church and has been the guiding light on the Board of Directors of the John Ellis Endowment. She manages our intern program and uses her considerable expertise in performance to attract the fabulous and famous choral groups to perform for the Missoula community at the invitation of the John Ellis Endowment. She received her B.A. in organ performance from Centenary College of Louisiana, her Masters of Music in organ from Eastman, and her Doctor of Musical Arts also from Eastman.