Music

Mary Katherine Kilgore

Director of Music Ministries

and Music Director of St. James School

Mary Katherine Kilgore is the Director of Music at St. James, where she leads the Music Ministry, directs the adult choir, oversees the St. James Concert Series, and teaches at St. James Episcopal School. She has over 35 years of experience teaching music and working with children. A longtime music educator and leader, she has directed choirs, judged competitions, and served in key roles with churches and community music organizations, including the Eastern Shore Choral Society and Eastern Shore Repertory Theater. She has also led choir tours and performances nationally and internationally and has lived in Fairhope with her family since 2005.

Joe Setzer

Associate Director of Music and Organist - Children's Choir Leader

Joe Setzer grew up outside Charlotte, NC, with his parents and twin brother, Ben. As a teenager, he especially loved fly fishing in the Appalachian mountains and deer hunting in South Carolina with his dad and brother. He moved to Mobile in May 2021 and worked at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and School as the Choral Music Director and Organist. At St. Luke’s Church, Joe conducted the Adult and Handbell Choirs while establishing (and conducting) a new Chorister program. He also spearheaded special liturgies including an All Souls’ Evensong, a Martin Luther King, Jr. Evensong, and a Candlemas Compline service. At school he taught music classes for grades 2 - 12, and developed High School and Middle School choirs. He introduced the school and church to the true spirit of Episcopal Church music.

Joe’s past experience includes working as the Associate Director of Choristers at All Saints’ Episcopal Church and Day School in Phoenix, AZ, and as the Fellow in Church Music at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Columbia, SC. These positions provided him with valuable choir training and church music experience.

Mr. Setzer is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of South Carolina, where he earned both a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music in Organ Performance. Along with playing the organ, Mr. Setzer also studies voice and sings regularly. His former instructors include Dr. Jared Johnson, Dr. Kenneth Miller, and Dr. Katie Ann McCarty in organ, and Dr. Peter Barton and Mr. Jacob Will in voice. Joe also has extensive experience with the Royal School of Church Music summer courses, serving in many capacities at various RSCM summer camps throughout the country. Mr. Setzer has accompanied and chaperoned choirs of all ages on trips throughout the United States and Europe.

In his spare time, Joe enjoys Yoga/Pilates, weightlifting, reading classic literature, and studying languages. His current Duolingo streak is 1,387 days (in Danish). Joe also loves Mobile Mardi Gras!