Owen Burdick, the organist and music director at Trinity Church in Lower Manhattan, who significantly improved its musical offerings and became a major fixture on the early-music scene, abruptly left his job on Monday.
Owen Burdick conducting the Trinity Choir at the church.
Owen Burdick, the organist and music director at Trinity Church in Lower Manhattan, who significantly improved its musical offerings and became a major fixture on the early-music scene, abruptly left his job on Monday after 17 years.
No. 12 Chorus from Handel's Messiah
The church, one of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent religious institutions, did not release the news publicly until asked about Mr. Burdick’s departure by a reporter on Friday. It then issued a statement that it said was on behalf of Mr. Burdick, in which he said he had resigned.
“I look forward to composing, teaching and to pursuing future conducting and recording opportunities,” the statement said. “My 17 years have been fulfilling and productive, and I am grateful for the experiences I have had and the musicians I’ve worked with.”
A call to the Rev. Canon Anne Mallonee, Trinity’s vicar, was referred to a public relations official who then passed the question to the church’s vicepresident of communications, Linda Hanick. Ms. Hanick provided the same reasons for Mr. Burdick’s departure.
“He really wants to focus on composing and teaching,” she said.
She declined to discuss why Mr. Burdick left without notice, whether he was receiving severance or whether there was any other reason for his leaving, saying, “We don’t comment on the departure of employees.”
Ms. Hanick also declined to say whether the church would choose a replacement. “We’re going to be looking at how we’ll restructure the music program,” she said. In the interim, Ms. Mallonee will take charge of the music program, she said.
When reached by telephone, Mr. Burdick said he was too busy to talk. He failed to respond to later phone messages.
Mr. Burdick’s departure comes as he and the Trinity Choir were preparing for a Jan. 29 performance of Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers with the Rebel Baroque Orchestra. The choir and orchestra have collaborated on a number of well-reviewed early-music performances, including an annual “Messiah” in December.
A concert of Haydn Masses is scheduled for March 11 and a performance of Baroque French motets on May 20. Ms. Hanick said that substitute conductors had been found for the Monteverdi and motet concerts and a third was being sought for the Haydn concert.
The forces under Mr. Burdick were also engaged in a major project to record all of Haydn’s Masses. Ms. Hanick said nine had been recorded and three were left. She said the church had been financing the project and would like to have the recordings released next year, but she had no information on how or on what label they would be issued.
She said church staff members and freelance organists would fill in for Trinity’s regular services. A separate parish choir provides music for services and church events.
WQXR-FM, the radio station owned by The New York Times Company, broadcasts some of the choir’s performances.
The church stirred controversy among organists by deciding last year to replace its Aeolian Skinner pipe organ, which had been severely damaged by dust and debris from the 9/11 terrorist attack, with a digital instrument
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