Board and Staff

Paula Acord Blackmon is a native Houstonian. She has studied at Westminister Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey where she was the Thompson Vocal Scholar winner and where she studied choral conducting with the renowned conductor and choral scholor, Dr. Dennis Shrock. She completed her undergraduate studies at Houston Baptist University and earned her Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from Rice University, where she studied with the late Virginia Babikian. While attending Rice she was the winner of numerous awards including National Finalist of the National Opera Association Auditions; Texoma Singer of the Year (SOTY) with the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS); The Rice Concerto Competition; and winner of the Shepherd School Award.

Paula has performed as vocal soloist, pianist, organist, and conductor in numerous schools, churches and choral organizations throughout Texas, Louisiana and Alabama; She has performed the mezzo-soprano roles in such opera works as The Merry Wives of Windsor (Meg Page); La Clemenza di Tito (Sextus); The Barber of Seville (Rosina); Carmen (Carmen); and The Rape of Lucretia (Lucretia); she has been soloist for numerous Oratorio works and has sung in many of Houston’s professional choral organizations.

She has served as Organist and Choir Director for Houston’s First Baptist Church; Organist, First United Methodist Church-Westchase; and interim organist at Tallowood Baptist Church where she and her husband Charles are members.

In addition to her multi-talents, Paula is a former elementary school music educator where she was Music Specialist in K-5 in Spring Branch Independent School District. Paula is a member of the Houston Masterworks Chorus. She and Charles have three grown daughters.

Bryan Anderson

Accompanist

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Recently named one of The Diapason’s “20 under 30” Class of 2017, Bryan Anderson has performed at venues including the Kennedy Center, Verizon Hall in Philadelphia, Woolsey Hall at Yale, Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, Spivey Hall near Atlanta, Princeton University Chapel, and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York. He has been featured in performance at conventions of the American Guild of Organists and the Organ Historical Society, and broadcast on American Public Media’s “Pipedreams” radio program. Currently working toward a master’s degree at Rice University under Ken Cowan, Bryan’s undergraduate work was at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he earned degrees in organ under Alan Morrison and harpsichord with teacher, Leon Schelhase. Bryan serves as associate organist at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Houston; other recent positions have been as organ scholar at Wells Cathedral in Somerset, England, and as organist at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. Bryan also served as an assistant organist of the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ in Macy’s department store in Philadelphia for several years. In addition to work at the organ, Bryan has enjoyed extensive collaboration as a chamber musician, performing many times as a continuo artist and ensemble pianist.