Organ Intern Announcement

Grace Jackson named as 2025–2026 Gerre Hancock Intern at St. John the Divine

The Church of St. John the Divine, and the Association of Anglican Musicians (AAM) are pleased to announce the appointment of Grace Jackson as the recipient of the 2025–2026 AAM Gerre Hancock Internship. The Gerre Hancock Internship program was established to create full-time mentoring opportunities for extraordinary young church musicians who demonstrate a strong interest in the music and worship of The Episcopal Church. This annual internship is jointly funded by AAM and the host institution and offers the intern ten months of practical experience through intense and intentionally formative work as part of an outstanding music program. During her time at St. John the Divine, Grace will be mentored by Mr. Steven Newberry as well as the other St. John the Divine staff.

Grace Jackson is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in organ and sacred music at the University of Michigan, studying with Nicole Keller. She also studies carillon with Tiffany Ng and serves as the carillon contributing editor for The Diapason. Jackson earned a Master of Sacred Music from the University of Notre Dame, where she was an organist and graduate assistant for the Liturgical Choir at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. A native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, she holds a Bachelor of Music in organ and piano performance from Oklahoma City University. Jackson currently serves as organ scholar at St. John’s Episcopal Church (Detroit, MI) under the direction of Huw Lewis and is a Graduate Student Instructor for the Department of Musicology at the University of Michigan.

Grace writes:

I am delighted and humbled to serve as the 2025–2026 Gerre Hancock Intern at The Church of St. John the Divine in Houston, Texas. My deepest thanks to the Association of Anglican Musicians and St. John the Divine for this invaluable opportunity, and for their commitment to mentoring young church musicians. It is my desire, in turn, to do the same for the next generation of church musicians. I am grateful to my family, friends, and mentors who encourage, support, and foster my development as a person and musician. It is a privilege to learn from Mr. Steven Newberry, the music staff, and clergy at The Church of St. John the Divine.

We look forward to welcoming Grace to St. John the Divine this August!