Music Department Staff

Mr. Christopher Berry
Organist & Choirmaster

Please welcome another addition to our Incarnation staff. Beginning in January 2009, Christopher Berry will be the new Organist and Choirmaster for our Music Department. Chris and his wife Meredith have been living in Rome for the last eighteen months where he has been serving as the Director of Liturgical Music for the Pontifical North American College, Vatican City. He was responsible for all of the liturgical music, direction of the choirs and served as principal organist.

A native of Louisiana, Chris was voted the Outstanding Undergraduate Student in organ performance while studying in Denton at the University of North Texas where he earned his Bachelor of Music. From there, he studied for his Master of Music at the University of Kansas. In addition, he attained a First Prize Diploma at the Conservatoire de Rueil-Malmaison in Paris, France studying organ. Chris has held several roles as Organist/Choirmaster in parish settings as well as music teacher and choral director in school settings. Meredith is an Italian art historian and has spent her time in Rome acting as a tour director. Prior to their move to Rome, she was on staff at the Frick Collection in New York City. Chris and Meredith are looking forward to making their home in Dallas as their first child is due to arrive in April.

Mrs. Monica Awbrey
Assistant Choirmaster

The second exciting announcement is that Monica Awbrey will be assuming the role of our Assistant Choirmaster. Monica has performed magnificently during our interim period ably preparing and presenting Incarnation choirs. This has included music planning and rehearsing our choirs. Monica has directed choirs of every age level over the course of her choral career. Prior to coming to Dallas, she taught in San Antonio where she received her degrees from Trinity University. She holds a Bachelor of Music as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching. In addition to her conducting and teaching, Monica enjoys singing in many different professional ensembles in the Dallas area and is married to baritone, Jason Awbrey, who also sings in the Incarnation Choir. Monica and Jason have been a part of the music of Incarnation for more than ten years. They were married at Incarnation where they are now raising their two sons Connor, five and Kieran, two.

Mr. Jim Carter
Music Department Administrator

 Mr. D. Keith Franks
Assistant Sub-Organist

 
Keith Franks, Assistant Organist at Church of the Incarnation since 1996, grew up near the Gulf Coast of Southeast Texas in the city of Vidor. He earned his Bachelor of Music in piano and Master of Music in music education from the University of North Texas. 

Keith lived in San Francisco as a young adult and sang alto in the Choir of Grace Cathedral for eight years. Upon returning to Dallas he sang with the St. Mark's School of Texas Evensong Choir with whom he sang in residence at Westminster Abbey; St. George's Chapel, Windsor; St. Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh and York Minster in 1988 and 1990. 

Keith has accompanied the Incarnation choirs on the organ for three tours to England in 1998, 2000 and 2002 at Chichester, Wells, Lincoln and Southwark Cathedrals and Westminster Abbey. He has served as the organist for several Incarnation CD's. The American Record Guide review of the With Angels and Archangels CD congratulated Keith on his registrations and “insistent, anxious interjections” in the Langlais Messe Solennelle.
 

Keith has taught class piano and choir in the Dallas Public Schools and currently teaches World History at North Dallas High School. He annually brings his classes from NDHS to Incarnation each Spring on a walking field trip pipe organ experience. 

Ms. Robin Cate
Director of the Cherub Choir

Robin Cate, native of Boulder, Colorado, and long-time resident of Texas and Louisiana, is the director of the Incarnation Cherub Choir. The Cherub Choir provides Kindergarten through Second Grade-age children the opportunity to learn singing techniques, simple yet liturgical music and then to fellowship with one another at “Pizza Time”. We meet on Wednesdays during the school year and sing the prelude at the 9:00 a.m. services in the Church and the Chapel about once a month during that period. Robin has served in this capacity since 2002. She is also a member of the Incarnation Chancel Choir, where she is thrilled to be a part of a group that sings such glorious music to the glory of God.

Robin is a two-time graduate of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge having earned a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and a Bachelor of Music Education with an emphasis in Voice. At LSU, Robin was active in Kappa Kappa Gamma and was the host of the Morning Show and Production Director at KLSU. During both degree programs, Robin was active in several LSU choral ensembles including being a founding member of the Schola Cantorum, and a member of the Chamber Singers and the nationally recognized A Capella choir under the direction of Dr. Kenneth Fulton.. While in Baton Rouge, Robin performed recitals, debuted several pieces by a fellow LSU graduate and sang with area church choirs at St. Alban’s Episcopal and St. Joseph’s Cathedral (Catholic). She also directed the First and Second grade choir at First United Methodist Church.

Robin is a member of NEA (the National Association of Educators) and TMEA (Texas Music Educators Association). As an elementary music teacher at the Arahapo Classical Magnet School in Richardson, Robin brings her love of children combined with musical and management expertise to her duties at Incarnation.

Mr. Justin Brooks
Director of the Uptown Worship Ensemble

Justin Brooks is a native of Beaumont, Texas where he honed his skills as a guitarist, drummer, keyboardist and songwriter. Joining the Uptown@Incarnation’s staff in February 2006, he serves as the Worship Music Leader for the Uptown congregation and is responsible for conducting the worship ensemble and composing original music for the service.
 

Upon graduation from high school, Justin moved to Dallas to attend Dallas Baptist University, receiving his Bachelor of Science in Music Business in 2004. In his tenure at DBU, he studied voice under Prof. Donna Holden and was a member of the esteemed Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Stephen Holcomb, and had the opportunity to perform at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, St. Giles in Edinburgh, as well as the memorial service for Tom Landry.
 

While in college Justin toured the country with his band leading worship music professionally, performing at venues such as Metro Bible Study in Houston, Texas, Fort Worth Convention Center and Will Rogers Theater. These opportunities allowed him to perform as the opener for national recording artists such as Newsboys and The Elms. He has released two full length albums with his band, and has written, conducted, and played instruments on various professional recordings, some of which have been nationally released. Also a lover of theater, Justin has been fortunate to have been cast as the lead role in various stage productions of Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
 

Justin comes to Uptown@Incarnation from Fellowship of Stonebridge in McKinney, Texas where he served as Music and Outreach Director. Before that he served as Interim Worship Leader for a contemporary service at Highland Terrace Baptist Church in Greenville, Texas. Justin is extremely thankful for God bringing him to Uptown@Incarnation and prays his gifts will be used to bring a fresh energy and allow people to worship God in spirit and truth. 

Justin and his wife Tiffany live in Plano, Texas and are excited about what God is doing at Church of the Incarnation.