Conductor Laureate
Jack R. Ergo celebrates his twenty-seventh year with the Heritage Philharmonic – assuming the honored role of conductor laureate.
In 2002, Jack was appointed associate professor of music at Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa where he conducts the Graceland University Symphony. For 20 years Jack was Music Director of the International Headquarters of the Community of Christ Church located in Independence Missouri. During those years, he conducted many workshops throughout the United States and Canada for church musicians and continues to be especially in demand for his ability at turning a congregation into a choir. Because of his knowledge of hymnody combined with his choral and orchestral skill, the directing of hymn festivals is one of his specialties. A major focus of his tenure at this position was the conducting of the Church's annual presentation of Handel's Messiah. He has taken members of this choir to many levels of performance including tours to England and Wales and performed at the distinguished international choral festival city of Llangloflen, in concerts with Welsh men's choruses, as well as Westminster Abbey (site of Handel's grave) and Canterbury Cathedral. In 1998, 60 members traveled to Nuremberg, Munich, Prague, and Salzburg, performing in churches and cathedrals. The choir has been broadcast live over radio and television since 1991 including a national PBS Broadcast. Last season the choir presented the complete Messiah at Carnegie Hall to a sold out audience.
A native of Saginaw, Michigan, Jack Ergo holds music degrees from Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University. He resided in Baltimore, Maryland, for six years and came to Independence in 1981. His musical activities throughout his life have been varied and extensive including piano, harpsichord, and organ performance; composition and arranging for choral, orchestral, chamber and jazz ensembles; and piano accompanying of solo instrumental literature. He began playing organ for church at age 11 and was music director of his local congregation at age 16. Jack served as conductor and artistic director of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra for 10 years.
In 2002, Jack was appointed associate professor of music at Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa where he conducts the Graceland University Symphony. For 20 years Jack was Music Director of the International Headquarters of the Community of Christ Church located in Independence Missouri. During those years, he conducted many workshops throughout the United States and Canada for church musicians and continues to be especially in demand for his ability at turning a congregation into a choir. Because of his knowledge of hymnody combined with his choral and orchestral skill, the directing of hymn festivals is one of his specialties. A major focus of his tenure at this position was the conducting of the Church's annual presentation of Handel's Messiah. He has taken members of this choir to many levels of performance including tours to England and Wales and performed at the distinguished international choral festival city of Llangloflen, in concerts with Welsh men's choruses, as well as Westminster Abbey (site of Handel's grave) and Canterbury Cathedral. In 1998, 60 members traveled to Nuremberg, Munich, Prague, and Salzburg, performing in churches and cathedrals. The choir has been broadcast live over radio and television since 1991 including a national PBS Broadcast. Last season the choir presented the complete Messiah at Carnegie Hall to a sold out audience.
A native of Saginaw, Michigan, Jack Ergo holds music degrees from Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University. He resided in Baltimore, Maryland, for six years and came to Independence in 1981. His musical activities throughout his life have been varied and extensive including piano, harpsichord, and organ performance; composition and arranging for choral, orchestral, chamber and jazz ensembles; and piano accompanying of solo instrumental literature. He began playing organ for church at age 11 and was music director of his local congregation at age 16. Jack served as conductor and artistic director of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra for 10 years.
