~Our Director~

Charles Whittaker is currently the Organist/Director of Music at the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. As a child, he was privileged to study under Dr. John Davis on the largest cathedral pipe organ in the world, which is housed in the West Point Military Academy Cadet Chapel, West Point, New York.

Mr. Whittaker, a graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, has devoted his career to the art of sacred music. His first position as organist was at the age of ten and after two years he was asked to serve as choral director as well; thus, his music career was launched at an early age. Prior to his current position in Atlanta, he served as Organist/Choirmaster at the Fairfax United Methodist Church and Assistant Professor of Organ at George Mason University, both located in Fairfax, Virginia.

Under his direction, the Chancel Choir of First Presbyterian Church has completed six European concert tours. Mr. Whittaker has performed twice at the Salzburg Church Music Festival in Salzburg, Austria where he conducted the Mozarteum Orchestra. In 1990 at the invitation of the Czech government, he conducted Handel's "Messiah" with the Chancel Choir and the Prague Chamber Orchestra for the First Christmas of Freedom Festival.

Mr. Whittaker is a well-known organ consultant in the east and is a respected organ teacher; several former students occupy prestigious positions throughout the U.S. and Korea.

First Presbyterian Church is located in the arts section of the city where Mr. Whittaker is well known as a leader of the sacred arts. During his tenure there, he has sponsored various musical events, professional workshops and established the renowned Musica Sacra Concert Series. Mr. Whittaker is also the founder and artistic director of the Saint Cecelia Consort, the church's semi-professional in-resident orchestra. First Presbyterian Church is a respected patron of the sacred arts and has been featured on local and national radio and television broadcasts.