Eileen Laurence received her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from the Juilliard School of Music with a major in voice under Belle Julie Soudant and a minor in organ under Vernon deTar. Upon graduation from Juilliard, Eileen was a busy free lance singer in New York City for 20 years working as a soloist with such renowned conductors as Leonard Bernstein and Pierre Boulez. She recorded for Decca and Columbia labels and sang with the Riverside Chamber Singers when they released two albums.
Turning her attention to the sacred music field, before coming to Katonah Mrs. Laurence was the Director of Music for St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in White Plains, NY where she oversaw a varied program of brass and recorder ensembles in addition to her work with the vocal choirs. Under her leadership the congregation chose and installed a moderately large Schantz organ. Eileen recently played several recitals on the newly installed von Becherath tracker organ at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Somers, NY.
Her handbell experience spans 30 years, with her initial training coming from Robert Ivey at the Westminster Choir School in Princeton, NJ. As Director of Music at the First Presbyterian Church in Katonah Eileen plays the organ, directs the Adult Choir and conducts the advanced handbell choirs. With the Katonah Celebration Ringers she has concertized internationally in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, China and Japan. The choir was featured on the CBS Charles Kuralt Show and the ringers have been guest artists with the Canadian Brass and the Paramount Brass. The Katonah Celebration Ringers have just released a CD, Around the World with KCR.
Eileen is a published composer and frequently serves as a handbell clinician at Area, National, and International festivals. She has conducted handbell festivals in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. She conducted at the National Directors Seminar in Spokane, the 4th Annual Puerto Rican Handbell Festival in Mayaguez and the 2000 Festival Conference in Topeka, Kansas. Eileen is accreditated by the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers as a Full Director and Massed Conductor.
Eileen has been married to Peter for 49 years, has two daughters, and plays with two granddaughters.
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