Saint Peter's Episcopal Church . 121 Church St. Phoenixville, PA 19460 . (610) 933-2195

Meet Derek Maninfior – Organist and Choirmaster

Derek Maninfior – Organist and Choirmaster
Derek Maninfior – Organist and Choirmaster

We are blessed to have Derek Maninfior as our new Director of Music. He joined us in July 2018 as our organist and choirmaster, replacing Karen Greene, who remains a parish member.  Derek leads both the adult choir and children’s “Treble” choir, which had both experienced strong growth in the past 2 years under Karen’s leadership.  Choir music is an essential part of St. Peter’s inspiring and uplifting services.

Derek comes to us with extensive training and experience in piano performance, teaching, rehearsing, accompanying, and leading the musical aspects of worship. He previously served as Director of Music at The Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township, New Jersey and as principal organist at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Charleston, Illinois, where he provided music for worship services and led the church choirs. He has also served as accompanist and associate instructor of piano at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, as well as collaborative pianist at 3 Eastern Illinois University and associate counselor and coach at the Indiana University Piano Academy.

In 2015, Derek was first prize winner of the Bradshaw & Buono Piano Competition and also performed at Carnegie Hall. In addition to other honors in prior years, Derek was named Gilmore Fellow at the Gilmore Piano Festival in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 2014 and was awarded the Artistic Excellence Fellowship at Indiana University in 2012. Derek received his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at Eastern Illinois University and his Master of Music in Piano Performance at Indiana University. Derek lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with his wife Elizabeth.

Special thanks to our Music Director Search Committee: Marty Bloem, Shelly Brennfleck, Ron Druckenmiller, Emma Martz, Karen Martz, and Catherine Wenger for their help and dedication to finding Derek as our new Director of Music.