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The American choral conductor and organist, Joel C. Krott, has been present in Moorestown since 1970. Having earned a Summa Cum Laude music performance degree in organ from Philadelphia Musical Academy, under the tutelage of Robert Elmore, he immediately was appointed Organist/Music Director at First Methodist Church in Moorestown. At that time, he also served as Assistant Organist at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. In February of 1972, he was appointed Organist/Musical Director at First Presbyterian Church, Moorestown, where he continued to build on the already well established music ministry of the church. Musical education continued in two summers at the International Organ Academy at Haarlem, Holland where he studied under Anton Heiller and Marie-Claire Alain. Organ studies continued for five summers in Copehagen, Denmark with Grethe Krogh of the Royal Danish Conservatory. He completed graduate work through the summer Oregon Bach Festivals at the University of Oregon, where he received extensive conducting instruction under Helmuth Rilling, and the Westminster Choir College. He has also studied theology at Eastern Baptist Seminary.
In the earlier part of Joel Krott’s tenure at First Presbyterian, he presented many concerts abroad and the choral program grew in size and depth. In seeking to provide fine orchestral accompaniments for the choirs, he established a small chamber orchestra which, after three years, became incorporated and eventually developed into West Jersey Chamber Music Society. The music society and Presbyterian Church are in a symbiotic relationship: the church providing a venue for choral, chamber, and orchestral concerts: the music society providing splendid accompaniments for the church choirs of all ages. Unique in this situation is the opportunity for young people down to second graders, to sing with a professional orchestra. Teen choirs, over the years have sung many major works including all the brief Masses of W.A. Mozart.
Joel Krott' leads five vocal choirs and is conductor of West Jersey Chamber Orchestra and Chorus. He has guided the West Jersey Chamber Music Society since its inception in 1980, creating 40 seasons of world-class music that challenge and inspire both supporters and musicians. He has presented concert tours as organist in Denmark and led the church choir tours in Denmark and Sweden. He has also provided first-class music and chorale training to hundreds of children in the communities - many of whom have thriving musical careers. He is equally committed to leading worshipful music with all ages and strives to glorify God and edify His children through the great classical organ and choral works that are a treasure of Christian culture.
In this time, through both the West Jersey Chamber Music Society and Church, Joel Krott has presented at least two-hundred concerts including major choral works, organ recitals, symphonic concerts, chamber music recitals, and youth choir concerts. In the church context, he strengthened the program by overseeing the installation of a new organ in 1991 built by Marcussen of Denmark - one of only four in North America. Also of note, he led four international concert tours for the youth choirs in Denmark, Sweden, and Germany. The aspect of international tours led by Joel Krott are preserved in a full-length documentary: “Heavenly Voices.”
Joel Krott lives in Cinnaminson and is the proud husband of Sandra, the proud father of Carl Krott and Melissa McNab, and proud grandfather of Taylor, Andrew, and Alex Krott and of Sawyer, Emma, and Fischer McNab. |
