St. Barbara Cantors
We welcome strong singers to inquire with Emily Wardle Spina, Music Director, about becoming a cantor. Teenagers and adults are welcome to become cantors, and both males and females are welcome! Cantors lead Mass in song on a rotational basis and are asked to practice and prepare the Mass’s music in advance so as to be most effective in their leadership. Cantors should have at minimum basic music-reading and music-preparation skills.
Music/Children’s Choir Director, Organist Biography
Emily Wardle Spina is the music and children’s choir director as well as one of two organists at St. Barbara Parish. A native of the Pittsburgh area (Belle Vernon), Emily has played the piano and organ for various churches of various denominations since she was in 9th grade. Her primary instrument is the bassoon but one of her favorite things to do while growing up was learn how to play many instruments, so Emily is pretty nimble around most instruments you’d find in a band.
Emily attended Duquesne University for Music Education and has been the Elementary General Music Teacher and Elementary Choir Teacher at Washington Park Elementary School in Washington, PA since 2010. She earned her Master’s Degree in Education (Curriculum & Instruction) from Clarion University, and also holds a program specialist certification in English as a Second Language.
Emily has performed with numerous community and professional ensembles; has served as a marching band assistant for South Allegheny and Belle Vernon marching bands; regularly performs in the pit orchestra for local musicals; and maintains an active private lesson studio comprised of piano, woodwind, brass, and beginning string students.
She has served as associate organist and choir director at St. Barbara’s since September 2016 and music director since January 2017.
Emily also serves as the Music Education Advocacy Representative and Treasurer for PMEA (Pennsylvania Music Educators Association) District 1.
Emily lives in Canonsburg with her husband Marc. They wed at St. Barbara’s Church in June 2017.
Emily can be best reached via email: emily@stbarbpgh.org.