Executive Board

Artistic Director - Joseph J. Buches

Mr. Buches received a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from West Chester University, West Chester PA, where he studied voice with Dr. Raymond Friday.  At Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA, Mr. Buches studied voice with Kim L. Renas, Jack Wilcocks and Jolene Jeffers, and organ with Dr. Kent Hill.

He has done extensive graduate work in conducting at Mansfield University under Dr. Peggy Dettwiler and at Westminster Choir College under Dr. James Jordan. Mr. Buches has also done extensive study in the field of Music Technology through the University of the Arts at Villanova University.

Mr. Buches has served as the Director of Choral Music at The Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, PA since 1998.  Mr. Buches was appointed Chair of the Music Department in 2000. Mr. Buches also serves as music director at Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion, Philadelphia. He has also served as adjunct vocal music faculty member at Penn State University, Delaware County Campus.

Mr. Buches has performed as a core singer with the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, under the direction of Alan Harler, as well as featured soloist with local area choruses.

Mr. Buches holds professional memberships with the American Choral Directors' Association, the National Association for Music Educators, and Pennsylvania Music Educator's Association.

Mr. Buches serves on the board of directorsfor GALA Choruses.

Joseph Buches can be contacted at director @ pgmc.org.
 

Collaborative Accompanist - Michael Djupstrom

The work of composer and pianist Mr. Djupstrom has been recognized through honors and awards from institutions such as the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the American Composers Forum, the Lotte Lehmann Foundation, the Académie musicale de Villecroze, the Chinese Fine Arts Society, the ASCAP Foundation, and the BMI Foundation, among others. Notable performers of his works include the American Composers Orchestra, the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Symphony in C, and numerous new music ensembles such as Brave New Works, Composers, Inc., North/South Consonance Ensemble, Sounds New, the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, and the New Fromm Players at Tanglewood.

Mr. Djupstrom was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1980 and began piano lessons at the age of eight. He studied music composition formally at the University of Michigan, from which he received undergraduate and graduate degrees. Other training included fellowships at the Tanglewood Music Center, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Brevard Music Center, as well as studies in Paris with composer Betsy Jolas. He currently lives in Philadelphia, where he teaches piano at Settlement Music School and courses in music theory and orchestration for Boston University’s online programs in music.

Michael Djupstrom can be contacted at pianist @ pgmc.org