Music Staff

Andrew Senn
Director of Music

Andrew Senn

Born in Chicago, IL and the son of a Lutheran pastor and theologian, Andrew Senn experienced music as an important part of his childhood. Piano lessons began at age six but his focus switched to the organ when he was twelve, studying with William Alyesworth. During his high school years, Andrew sang in the choir and served as Organ Scholar at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church in Evanston, Illinois, under the leadership of Richard Webster.

 

He attended the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, PA where he studied organ with John Weaver. During this time, he was one of the assistant organists at the Wanamaker Organ, where he performed over 2,000 recitals. Upon his graduation from Curtis in 2000, he was offered a combined position of Organ and Choral Scholar at Truro Cathedral in Cornwall, England where he worked under Andrew Nethsingha. He has enjoyed further organ coachings with Martin Jean, Kimberly Marshall, and David Schrader. Andrew was a finalist in improvisation in the 2013 Luxembourg International Organ Competition.

 

Prior to his appointment at The Redeemer, Andrew served as Director of Music at The First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia from 2006-2023, where he directed the professional choir, introduced a volunteer choir, as well as a concert series that included programs of solo instruments, chamber recitals, and choral concerts with orchestra. Notable programs included J. S. Bach's "B Minor Mass" and "Saint John Passion," Maurice Duruflé's "Requiem," and Francis Poulenc's "Concerto for Organ, Timpani, and Strings." Since 2011, Andrew has also served as Organist/Pianist at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park, PA.

 

Known for his commanding and colorful performances, Andrew has been featured as a recitalist across the United States and Europe. American venues have included The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine and St. Thomas Church in New York City; St. Philip's Cathedral and Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta, and Old West Church in Boston. European performances have taken place across England (Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral, London), France (Nancy Cathedral and St. Thomas, Strasbourg), and Germany (Evangelische Saalkirche, Ingelheim).

 

James Hildreth has said the following about Andrew's debut recording on the ProOrgano label, which includes works by Reubke, Willan, and Vierne: "These performances are a rare combination of authentic interpretation and personal flair - Élan Vital! They compel one to sit up and listen." Gaining a reputation as a fine composer and arranger, scores and information about other recordings are available at www.andrewsenn.com.


Andrew's husband, Edward Senn, is associate organist at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. They have twin children Arabella and Anthony.

Robert (Robby) Flora
Cherub Choir Director

Robert Flora

Born and raised in Owings, Maryland, baritone Robert Flora graduated in 2021 with a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from Binghamton University. He completed his undergraduate degree at Mansfield University. In 2021, Robert was a Resident Artist at Tri-Cities Opera where he covered the role of Dandini in La Cenerentola, and performed the role of Belcore, in L'Elisir d’amore. He also played the role of Max in Tri-cities traveling Opera Stone Soup. At Binghamton University, Robert performed the roles of the Father in Hansel and Gretel, Nardo in La finta giardiniera and Papageno in Die Zauberflöte. At Mansfield University, he sang the roles of Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro and Papageno. This previous summer, Robert performed the role of Benoit in Delaware Valley Opera's production of La Bohème. This fall, he will also be singing in the Philadelphia Opera Chorus for Simon Boccanegra.

Daniel Colaner
Michael Stairs Organ Scholar

Daniel Colaner

Exposure to classical music as a pediatric cancer survivor unleashed Daniel Colaner’s passion for the piano at age 5 and the organ at age 10. He received his pre-college music education at the Cleveland Institute of Music and as a private organ student of Dr. David Higgs. A dedicated church musician since the age of 12, he has served as the Organ Scholar at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Cleveland, OH, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights, and for the RSCM Washington, DC Choral Residency. Daniel is currently a student of Alan Morrison at the Curtis Institute of Music and a Wanamaker Assistant Grand Court Organist at Macy’s Center City.

 

Since capturing international media attention at the age of 12 with his same-day performances on piano at Carnegie Hall and on organ at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Daniel has been featured on ABC World News Tonight, Good Morning America, The Harry (Connick Jr.) Show, and the BBC World Service Newsday, and has appeared on the NPR radio show From the Top (Show #377), performing “Jupiter” from Gustav Holst’s The Planets, and on PBS with the American Pops Orchestra in One Voice: The Songs We Share–The Sacred. In 2023, he made his orchestral debut as an organist with Joseph Jongen’s Symphonie Concertante and the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra.

 

Daniel has been the top prize winner in numerous organ competitions, including the Arthur Poister Organ Competition, the Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition (HS Division), the National High School Organ Competition, and the L. Cameron Johnson Organ Competition, and was selected for The Diapason magazine’s “20 Under 30” Class of 2021, a nominated group of young adults at the forefront of the organ field. He is also a prize-winning pianist and chamber musician, whose performances have included Nikolai Kapustin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra and Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Euclid, Lakeland, and Suburban Symphony Orchestras.

 

In addition to making music, Daniel's passions include promoting the benefits of classical music on both radio and television and raising funds for non-profit organizations that support music therapy and music education.


“As the Michael Stairs Organ Scholar, I look forward to sharing my love of God, the pipe organ, and the Anglican choral tradition with the Redeemer community.”

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