St. Barbara Cantors

We welcome strong singers to inquire with Emily Wardle Spina, Music Director, about becoming a cantor. Teenagers and adults are welcome to become cantors, and both males and females are welcome! Cantors lead Mass in song on a rotational basis and are asked to practice and prepare the Mass’s music in advance so as to be most effective in their leadership. Cantors should have at minimum basic music-reading and music-preparation skills.

Music Director & Organist Background Information

Emily Wardle Spina is the music director and organist at St. Barbara Church, within the Corpus Christi Parish. A native of the Pittsburgh area (Belle Vernon), Emily has played the piano and organ for various churches of various denominations since she was in 9th grade. Her primary instrument is the bassoon but one of her favorite things to do while growing up was learn how to play many instruments, so Emily is pretty nimble around most instruments you’d find in a band.

Emily attended Duquesne University for Music Education and began her teaching career as the Elementary General Music Teacher and Elementary Choir Teacher at Washington Park Elementary School in Washington, PA, from 2010 to 2019. She currently teaches Elementary General Music and Elementary Choir at her Alma Mater, Belle Vernon Area School District. She earned her Master’s Degree in Education (Curriculum & Instruction) from Clarion University, and also holds a program specialist certification in English as a Second Language.

Emily has performed with numerous community and professional ensembles; has served as a marching band assistant for South Allegheny and Belle Vernon marching bands; regularly performs in the pit orchestra for local musicals; and maintains an active private lesson studio comprised of piano, woodwind, brass, and beginning string students.

She has served as an organist and choir director at St. Barbara’s since September 2016, and became the music director in January 2017.

Emily lives in Canonsburg with her husband Marc. They wed at St. Barbara’s Church in June 2017.

Emily can be best reached via email: emily@corpuschristipgh.org.