William P. Gorton

William Gorton is the Director of Sacred Music at Haddonfield United Methodist Church in New Jersey, where he is also Artistic Director/Conductor of the New Jersey MasterChorale, which performs choral masterworks twice yearly with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Friends. Prior to his appointment at HUMC, Dr. Gorton was Assistant Professor of Voice and Opera at Millikin University, where he taught studio voice, served as coach and conductor for the opera program, and directed Tudor Voices, a select chamber choir specializing in early music. William has had a diverse career as singer, voice teacher, composer, and conductor. The Founding Artistic Director of the Central Virginia Masterworks Chorale, he acquired his DMA in Choral Conducting at Arizona State University. While at ASU he also served as Assistant Chorus Master for the Phoenix Symphony Chorus. With a M.M. in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College, William has been a professional tenor and voice teacher, performing opera roles and oratorios with numerous organizations around the United States. Dr. Gorton is also a published composer. His hymn, “O God in Whom We Live,” can be found in Worship and Song, a United Methodist hymnal. World Library Publications has published “The Lord is My Shepherd,” for SATB choir with piano and flute. Hope Publishing recently released his arrangement for SATB choir, piano, and violin obbligato, “Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head.” His opus includes numerous art songs, choral anthems, and church service works, as well as a new orchestral work, “Fantasy on God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” recently performed in concert with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Friends. An April 9, 2017 performance of the Chorale, together with the Philadelphia Boys Choir, will include Duruflé’s Requiem, Mozart’s Regina Coeli (K. 247), and the world premiere of Dr. Gorton’s Te Deum, for orchestra, SATB choir (divisi), treble choir, and mezzo-soprano solo.

William Gorton, used by permission