Music Ministry

The Reverend Peter Kountz
Priest-in-Residence

Peter Kountz was ordained a Priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania in June 2015, having Read for Holy Orders at Virginia Theological Seminary under the direction of  Professor Frank Wade. His journey to the priesthood, though very long, began early with his concert pianist and teacher mother and his music critic and plant manager father. As an ecumenical Roman Catholic, Father Peter’s call was nurtured and kept alive by Choir School, Ursuline nuns, the Benedictines, Martin Marty and The University of Chicago, Joan Chittister, Thomas Merton, Fred Rogers, musicians of all kinds, many old and trusted colleagues and friends and, most importantly, with exquisite patience and understanding, his wife and children. 

Father Peter received a B.A. in English from Saint Meinrad College Seminary and an M.A. in Literature and Music and a Ph.D in History of Culture from The University of Chicago. He served on the faculties and in the administrations of The University of Chicago and the University of Rochester. From 2005 to 2015, Father Peter was the Head of The Charter School of Architecture + Design in Center City Philadelphia and he currently serves on the Board of The American Paradigm Schools.

Among other things, Father Peter has been a truck and bus driver, journalist, arts critic, professional musician, college baseball coach, concert producer, managed a University radio station, served as a retreat director, and was the first Curator of the Frank Lloyd Wright Robie House in Chicago. In his other lives, Father Peter is a teacher, writer, and arts consultant, and he coaches professional musicians.

Father Peter also serves as Priest in Residence at St, Stephens Episcopal Church in Center City Philadelphia. Before that he was the Curate at The Church of the Holy Trinity, Rittenhouse Square.  Father Peter and his wife Nanci have three children and six grandchildren.

Father Kountz can be reached at pkatssa@aol.com

Our music ministry is directed by Roland Woehr holds a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Temple University, having studied with Alan Harler. An avid composer of sacred music,

Roland composes and arranges for us that we might continually “sing to the Lord a new song.” (Psalm 96: 1) His music has been performed from Verizon Hall in Philadelphia to Honolulu, and his music is published by Augsburg-Fortress Press. Roland also serves as director of choral music at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy and as principal musician at Reform Congregation Beth Or in Maple Glen.

Our Good Shepherd adult choir meets at 9:30 AM each Sunday, September through mid June, to prepare the directed music for the 10:30 AM celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Rite II. Parishioners and friends of the parish who are interested in singing with the choir are warmly welcome to speak with the choirmaster after the liturgy. Or to email me at rwoehr@sch.org.