Norman Scribner

Norman Orville Scribner (February 25, 1936 – March 22, 2015) was an American conductor, composer, pianist and organist. He was most widely known as the founder of The Choral Arts Society of Washington, and as its artistic director for over 45 years.

Scribner was born on February 25, 1936 in Washington, D.C., the son of a Maryland clergyman appointed the year before he was born. While in high school, he would "rac[e] to the church at 4 a.m. each morning to practice scales," but following his father's death, "financial necessity compelled him to focus on more lucrative forms of music making: church jobs." He attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, graduating with honors in 1961. He studied organ with Paul Callaway and music theory with Walter Spencer Huffman. While still a student at Peabody, he formed the Baltimore Choral Society and "[s]o perfection-oriented was he that he held sectionals for a junior choir and rigorous auditions" for the group.

In 1960, after "a stint in the Army," he accepted a position as musical staff assistant for the Washington National Cathedral, choirmaster of St. Alban's Episcopal Church, and chapel organist for the St. Albans School for Boys. (He served at St. Alban's Church until his retirement in 2007.) In 1960 he also joined the faculty at American University, serving there until 1963. He later joined the faculty at George Washington University from 1963–1969, and served on the faculty of the College of Church Musicians of Washington National Cathedral.

Scribner first received significant public attention while serving as assistant organist at the Washington National Cathedral. A review of an organ recital in June 1963 observed that "[i]n the last few years a young musician in town has found the right climate to establish himself as one of those to whom musical leadership and responsibility will be given in years to come." That year, Scribner was appointed as staff keyboard artist for the National Symphony Orchestra, a post he would hold until 1967. He conducted and took control of the Symphony's annual production of Handel's Messiah in 1963 after conductor Howard Mitchell "was impressed by his ability and intensity." A 1964 profile in The Washington Post described him as a "28-year old who looks, despite the glasses which occasionally slip down from his nose and give him the air of a beleaguered English professor, like a football player." It noted that for Scribner, doing music was "the complete life performing as pianist, organist, harpsichordist; directing as choir master at St. Alban's; teaching at George Washington University; conducting."

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