Director of Music

212-627-2100 ext. 202
[email protected]

After completing his Bachelor of Music with a double major in composition and conducting at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, St. Francis Xavier Director of Music Ministries, John Uehlein, arrived in New York City to do graduate work at Columbia University where he was awarded a Master of Arts in Composition and the Manhattan School of Music where he was awarded a Master of Music in Vocal Performance. During this time of study, he was a resident of the Inwood neighborhood in northernmost Manhattan and spent most of his time above 96th Street! As a baritone, John Uehlein, had a 20+ year career in the New York and regional singing scene. During this time he moved to W. 56th Street just blocks from Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.  Among his many credits included are seventeen years with the NYCOpera chorus, numerous appearances with Opera Orchestra of New York Chorus, The New York Philharmonic and Mostly Mozart Festival.  As a solo singer, he appeared with the American Chamber Opera Company in Peronelle, Trouble in Tahiti, Three Mimes, and Mighty Casey at the Bat as well as with American Symphony Orchestra as Konecny in Osud and Maly vesen in From the House of the Dead, both by Janacek at The Bard Music Festival and Avery Fisher Hall.  He has appeared several times with the Downtown Symphony Orchestra as Marullo in Rigoletto, Falstaff in Falstaff, and singing the baritone solos in Faure’s Requiem.  In the early 90’s Maestro Uehlein started working for the Archdiocese of New York as a Director of Music first for St. John the Evangelist at 1011 First Avenue (1993-95) and then at the Actor’s Chapel at W. 49th and Broadway, St. Malachy’s (1995-99).  Since 2000, John has been the Director of Music Ministries at the Church of St. Francis Xavier in Chelsea, a Jesuit Apostolate, part of the North-east Province of Jesuit America. In this capacity, the Kappelmeister overseas directly or in-directly all of the ensembles at SFX:  The Choir, The Campanologists (bell choir), The Xavier Players and Schola (assisted by the Assistant Director of Music) and the Family Faith Choir which is directed by the assistant Director of Music, Jacqueline C. Perez. His major responsibility is in the choice of music for Sunday worship services which propagates full, active participation of the congregation and supports the Liturgy of the Word and Eucharist in musical prayer. But on top of that there is the annual Cabaret and Lessons and Carols as well as other concerts that he organizes under the aegis of PAX (Performing Arts at Xavier).  As a composer, many of John’s offerings for the Church of St. Francis Xavier are done regularly including: The Mass of Acceptance, Mercy, When the Storm is Passing Over, Today is the Day and many more. In the last ten years, as his “side-job,” Professor Uehlein as been teaching as an Adjunct Lecturer of Music at the Borough of Manhattan Community College teaching Private Voice and Voice class, Fundamentals of Music, Piano, and Appreciation of Music classes. Born in December of 1956, John is now enjoying his sixties. His hobbies include cooking, gardening, composing, bicycling, sci-fi and summer days at the beach.