James Litton
Encyclopedia
James Litton directed the American Boychoir from 1985 to 2001 and is widely recognized as one of the leading choral conductors of the day.
, and at music festivals in Canada, in Prague, Guatemala, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, France, Poland, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and South Africa.
Dr. Litton is the founder of a number of choral ensembles, including community choruses, college, church and school choirs in West Virginia, Connecticut, Indiana, New York, and New Jersey. He has conducted choral groups, chamber music ensembles, and orchestras in more than 40 recordings, including many American Boychoir CDs on such labels as Angel Records
, Philips Records
, Sony Music Entertainment Inc., Virgin Records
, Bertelsmann Music Group, Linn Records
, and Music Masters. His most recent recordings include “Sing in Exultation,” a CD of music for the Advent and Christmas seasons with the Choirs of Washington National Cathedral
, and “Sound from Heaven” with soprano, Anna Maria Friman and the Girl Choristers of the cathedral. An avid writer for professional journals, with more than fifty articles to his credit, Dr Litton has also edited several books and collections of liturgical music.
, Dr. Litton was organist and director of music at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, New York for 13 years, and for an additional five years was the artistic consultant for the church. Earlier, he was assistant professor of organ and head of the church music department at Westminster Choir College
of Rider University
, and later, the C.F. Seabrook Director of Music at Princeton Theological Seminary
. He has also served as visiting lecturer at Virginia Theological Seminary and at Sewanee: The University of the South. He has been a member and vice chairman of the Episcopal Church’s Standing Commission on Church Music, and participated in the preparation and publication of the Episcopal Hymnal 1982. Also, he was the editor of the Plainsong Psalter for the Episcopal Church. As a church musician, James Litton has had earlier appointments in Charleston, West Virginia, his native city; in Plainfield, New Jersey; in Southport, Connecticut; at the Episcopal Cathedral in Indianapolis, Indiana
, and at Trinity Church in Princeton, New Jersey
. He has played organ concerts throughout the United States and Canada, and during concert tours in Europe, South Africa, and Asia.
, he prepared the choir for recordings and for performances of major works with many of the world’s outstanding orchestras. The choir has also appeared in many music festivals in America and abroad.
In addition, he prepared the choir for more than 100 performances, broadcasts, and recordings with major orchestras. These included, among others, the New York Philharmonic
, the Boston Symphony Orchestra
, the Boston Pops Orchestra
, the Philadelphia Orchestra
, the National Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony
, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
, the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
, in concerts which were under the direction of the world’s greatest conductors. In addition, he conducted concerts by the American Boychoir in America’s major concert halls, including Carnegie Hall
, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
, Symphony Hall, Boston
, and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
in Los Angeles. He also conducted the American Boychoir in soundtracks for award winning television commercials, movies, and television shows.
In February 2000, James Litton was installed as the first Litton-Lodal Music Director of the American Boychoir School
. The Litton-Lodal music directorship was endowed by a gift from Jan and Elizabeth Lodal in honor of the career of James Litton. Mr. and Mrs. Lodal are long-time trustees of the American Boychoir School
and parents of Eric Lodal, a 1990 graduate of the school. In making their gift, the Lodals said they wanted to guarantee for the future, the artistry and excellence which Dr. Litton has brought to the American Boychoir – “a gift he has given not just to those of us associated with the school, but to the entire world.” The Board of Trustees of the American Boychoir School
has named James Litton as Music Director Emeritus of the American Boychoir.
. At the cathedral, he conducted the Cathedral Choirs of Men and Girls, and Men and Boys in daily rehearsals and Evensongs, as well as in the weekend services of Holy Eucharist
and Evensong. In addition, under his direction, the cathedral choirs sang for the ordination of the Bishop of Washington, in concerts, recordings, television, and public radio broadcasts, and during a prayer breakfast at the White House
in the presence of the President and First Lady. The Cathedral Choir of Men and Girls also sang under his direction for the National Convention of the American Guild of Organists
in Philadelphia.
In the summer of 2002, he was the conductor of the AmericaFest honor choir and lecturer at the Sixth World Symposium on Choral Music in Minneapolis. He also served as visiting professor, college cantor and conductor of the St. Olaf Cantorei at St. Olaf College
in Northfield, Minnesota, and was adjunct associate professor at Westminster Choir College
of Rider University
in Princeton, New Jersey
. At Westminster, he conducted the Sophomore Schola and taught graduate and undergraduate courses in the sacred music department.
In 2004, Litton conducted the honor choir of boys and young men at the American Choral Directors Association
Convention in Nashville, TN. As Music Director Emeritus of the American Boychoir, Litton continued to work on special projects for them. During the winter of 2004-05, two additional CDs with the American Boychoir were released – “Messe Basse,” a collection of 19th and 20th century French choral music, and a Christmas compilation, “Voices of Angels.”
During the 2005-06 season he served as the interim music director and conductor of the Adult Choir at the Nassau Presbyterian Church
in Princeton, New Jersey
. Most recently Litton was an international conductor at the 2nd International Boys and Men’s Choral Festival in Hradec Králové & Prague, Czech Republic from June 30 – July 7, 2008.
Dr. Litton currently acts as the choral conductor for the American Boychoir Alumni Chorus.
of Rider University
and is a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music
, one of seven Americans to receive this honor. Dr. Litton has been awarded Honorary Doctor of Music degrees from the University of Charleston
, and from Westminster Choir College
of Rider University
.
Overview
Dr. Litton has conducted choral and orchestral works throughout five continents, and regularly leads workshops and seminars in the United States and abroad. During past seasons he has conducted the Berkshire Choral Festival, at the Tanglewood Music FestivalTanglewood Music Festival
The Tanglewood Music Festival is a music festival held every summer on the Tanglewood estate in Lenox, Massachusetts in the Berkshire Hills in western Massachusetts....
, and at music festivals in Canada, in Prague, Guatemala, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, France, Poland, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and South Africa.
Dr. Litton is the founder of a number of choral ensembles, including community choruses, college, church and school choirs in West Virginia, Connecticut, Indiana, New York, and New Jersey. He has conducted choral groups, chamber music ensembles, and orchestras in more than 40 recordings, including many American Boychoir CDs on such labels as Angel Records
Angel Records
Angel Records is a record label belonging to EMI. It was formed in 1953 and specialised in classical music, but included an occasional operetta or Broadway score...
, Philips Records
Philips Records
Philips Records is a record label that was founded by Dutch electronics company Philips. It was started by "Philips Phonographische Industrie" in 1950. Recordings were made with popular artists of various nationalities and also with classical artists from Germany, France and Holland. Philips also...
, Sony Music Entertainment Inc., Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
, Bertelsmann Music Group, Linn Records
Linn Records
Linn Records is a Glasgow-based record label which specialises in classical, jazz and Scottish music. It is part of Linn Products.-History:While Linn engineers were testing their flagship product, the Sondek LP12 turntable, they became frustrated with some of the specialist test LPs they were using...
, and Music Masters. His most recent recordings include “Sing in Exultation,” a CD of music for the Advent and Christmas seasons with the Choirs of Washington National Cathedral
Washington National Cathedral
The Washington National Cathedral, officially named the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, is a cathedral of the Episcopal Church located in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. Of neogothic design, it is the sixth-largest cathedral in the world, the second-largest in...
, and “Sound from Heaven” with soprano, Anna Maria Friman and the Girl Choristers of the cathedral. An avid writer for professional journals, with more than fifty articles to his credit, Dr Litton has also edited several books and collections of liturgical music.
Early career
Prior to his recent appointments, and his tenure at the American Boychoir SchoolAmerican Boychoir School
The American Boychoir School is a music boarding school located in Princeton, New Jersey. It is one of only two boychoir boarding schools in the United States, the other being Saint Thomas Choir School in New York City...
, Dr. Litton was organist and director of music at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, New York for 13 years, and for an additional five years was the artistic consultant for the church. Earlier, he was assistant professor of organ and head of the church music department at Westminster Choir College
Westminster Choir College
Westminster Choir College is a residential college of music, part of Rider University, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States.Westminster Choir College educates men and women at the undergraduate and graduate levels for musical careers in music education, voice performance, piano...
of Rider University
Rider University
Rider University is a private, coeducational and nonsectarian university located chiefly in Lawrenceville, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States...
, and later, the C.F. Seabrook Director of Music at Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
. He has also served as visiting lecturer at Virginia Theological Seminary and at Sewanee: The University of the South. He has been a member and vice chairman of the Episcopal Church’s Standing Commission on Church Music, and participated in the preparation and publication of the Episcopal Hymnal 1982. Also, he was the editor of the Plainsong Psalter for the Episcopal Church. As a church musician, James Litton has had earlier appointments in Charleston, West Virginia, his native city; in Plainfield, New Jersey; in Southport, Connecticut; at the Episcopal Cathedral in Indianapolis, Indiana
Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis. Christ Church Cathedral is the oldest religious building in continuous use in Indianapolis.- History :...
, and at Trinity Church in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
. He has played organ concerts throughout the United States and Canada, and during concert tours in Europe, South Africa, and Asia.
American Boychoir
Litton was the director of the American Boychoir for sixteen years. He conducted the choir in more than 2,000 concerts in 48 of the American states, and in 12 other nations. He also conducted the choir in more than 30 professional recordings and in television special programs and commercial sound tracks. During his tenure at the American Boychoir SchoolAmerican Boychoir School
The American Boychoir School is a music boarding school located in Princeton, New Jersey. It is one of only two boychoir boarding schools in the United States, the other being Saint Thomas Choir School in New York City...
, he prepared the choir for recordings and for performances of major works with many of the world’s outstanding orchestras. The choir has also appeared in many music festivals in America and abroad.
In addition, he prepared the choir for more than 100 performances, broadcasts, and recordings with major orchestras. These included, among others, the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
, the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
, the Boston Pops Orchestra
Boston Pops Orchestra
The Boston Pops Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, that specializes in playing light classical and popular music....
, the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
, the National Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony is an orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980, the orchestra has performed at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus are part of the organization...
, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
, the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is the leading symphony orchestra in Israel. It was originally known as the Palestine Orchestra, and in Hebrew as התזמורת הסימפונית הארץ ישראלית The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (abbreviation IPO; Hebrew: התזמורת הפילהרמונית הישראלית, ha-Tizmoret ha-Filharmonit...
, in concerts which were under the direction of the world’s greatest conductors. In addition, he conducted concerts by the American Boychoir in America’s major concert halls, including Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of New York City's Upper West Side. Reynold Levy has been its president since 2002.-History and facilities:...
, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is a performing arts center located on the Potomac River, adjacent to the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C...
, Symphony Hall, Boston
Symphony Hall, Boston
Symphony Hall is a concert hall located at 301 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts. Designed by McKim, Mead and White, it was built in 1900 for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which continues to make the hall its home. The hall was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1999...
, and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is one of the halls in the Los Angeles Music Center . The Music Center's other halls include the Mark Taper Forum, Ahmanson Theatre, and Walt Disney Concert Hall.The Pavilion has 3,197 seats spread over four tiers, with chandeliers, wide curving stairways and rich décor...
in Los Angeles. He also conducted the American Boychoir in soundtracks for award winning television commercials, movies, and television shows.
In February 2000, James Litton was installed as the first Litton-Lodal Music Director of the American Boychoir School
American Boychoir School
The American Boychoir School is a music boarding school located in Princeton, New Jersey. It is one of only two boychoir boarding schools in the United States, the other being Saint Thomas Choir School in New York City...
. The Litton-Lodal music directorship was endowed by a gift from Jan and Elizabeth Lodal in honor of the career of James Litton. Mr. and Mrs. Lodal are long-time trustees of the American Boychoir School
American Boychoir School
The American Boychoir School is a music boarding school located in Princeton, New Jersey. It is one of only two boychoir boarding schools in the United States, the other being Saint Thomas Choir School in New York City...
and parents of Eric Lodal, a 1990 graduate of the school. In making their gift, the Lodals said they wanted to guarantee for the future, the artistry and excellence which Dr. Litton has brought to the American Boychoir – “a gift he has given not just to those of us associated with the school, but to the entire world.” The Board of Trustees of the American Boychoir School
American Boychoir School
The American Boychoir School is a music boarding school located in Princeton, New Jersey. It is one of only two boychoir boarding schools in the United States, the other being Saint Thomas Choir School in New York City...
has named James Litton as Music Director Emeritus of the American Boychoir.
Retirement
Immediately after retirement from the American Boychoir, Dr. Litton served a two-year tenure as choirmaster of the Washington National CathedralWashington National Cathedral
The Washington National Cathedral, officially named the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, is a cathedral of the Episcopal Church located in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. Of neogothic design, it is the sixth-largest cathedral in the world, the second-largest in...
. At the cathedral, he conducted the Cathedral Choirs of Men and Girls, and Men and Boys in daily rehearsals and Evensongs, as well as in the weekend services of Holy Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
and Evensong. In addition, under his direction, the cathedral choirs sang for the ordination of the Bishop of Washington, in concerts, recordings, television, and public radio broadcasts, and during a prayer breakfast at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
in the presence of the President and First Lady. The Cathedral Choir of Men and Girls also sang under his direction for the National Convention of the American Guild of Organists
American Guild of Organists
The American Guild of Organists, or AGO, is a national organization of academic, church, and concert organists in the U.S., headquartered in The Interchurch Center in New York City. It was founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization...
in Philadelphia.
In the summer of 2002, he was the conductor of the AmericaFest honor choir and lecturer at the Sixth World Symposium on Choral Music in Minneapolis. He also served as visiting professor, college cantor and conductor of the St. Olaf Cantorei at St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
in Northfield, Minnesota, and was adjunct associate professor at Westminster Choir College
Westminster Choir College
Westminster Choir College is a residential college of music, part of Rider University, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States.Westminster Choir College educates men and women at the undergraduate and graduate levels for musical careers in music education, voice performance, piano...
of Rider University
Rider University
Rider University is a private, coeducational and nonsectarian university located chiefly in Lawrenceville, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States...
in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
. At Westminster, he conducted the Sophomore Schola and taught graduate and undergraduate courses in the sacred music department.
In 2004, Litton conducted the honor choir of boys and young men at the American Choral Directors Association
American Choral Directors Association
The American Choral Directors Association , headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a non-profit organization with the stated purpose of promoting excellence in the field of choral music...
Convention in Nashville, TN. As Music Director Emeritus of the American Boychoir, Litton continued to work on special projects for them. During the winter of 2004-05, two additional CDs with the American Boychoir were released – “Messe Basse,” a collection of 19th and 20th century French choral music, and a Christmas compilation, “Voices of Angels.”
During the 2005-06 season he served as the interim music director and conductor of the Adult Choir at the Nassau Presbyterian Church
Nassau Presbyterian Church
The Nassau Presbyterian Church is located at 61 Nassau Street in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The church operates the Princeton Cemetery. The current pastor is The Reverend Dr. David A. Davis.-First church:...
in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
. Most recently Litton was an international conductor at the 2nd International Boys and Men’s Choral Festival in Hradec Králové & Prague, Czech Republic from June 30 – July 7, 2008.
Dr. Litton currently acts as the choral conductor for the American Boychoir Alumni Chorus.
Education
James Litton has bachelor and master degrees from Westminster Choir CollegeWestminster Choir College
Westminster Choir College is a residential college of music, part of Rider University, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States.Westminster Choir College educates men and women at the undergraduate and graduate levels for musical careers in music education, voice performance, piano...
of Rider University
Rider University
Rider University is a private, coeducational and nonsectarian university located chiefly in Lawrenceville, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States...
and is a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music
Royal School of Church Music
The largest church music organisation in Britain, the Royal School of Church Music was founded in 1927 by Sir Sydney Nicholson and has 11,000 members worldwide; it was originally named the School of English Church Music. It seeks to enable church music in the present and invest in its future,...
, one of seven Americans to receive this honor. Dr. Litton has been awarded Honorary Doctor of Music degrees from the University of Charleston
University of Charleston
The University of Charleston is a private university in Charleston, West Virginia, United States of over 1,300 students.-History:The school was founded in 1888 as the Barboursville Seminary of the Southern Methodist Church...
, and from Westminster Choir College
Westminster Choir College
Westminster Choir College is a residential college of music, part of Rider University, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States.Westminster Choir College educates men and women at the undergraduate and graduate levels for musical careers in music education, voice performance, piano...
of Rider University
Rider University
Rider University is a private, coeducational and nonsectarian university located chiefly in Lawrenceville, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States...
.