Meet the Festival Team
Jim Cole, Festival Director
Jim Cole is the Director of Liturgical Music at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Whitehouse Station, NJ, where he has served since 2001. He is organist, pianist, director of the adult choir, children’s choir, handbell choirs and chamber orchestra.
Jim began his choral singing with the Philadelphia Academy Boys Choir (University of the Arts) under the direction of Dr. Carlton Jones Lake, the first of many choirs. He furthered his music studies at the Settlement Music School of Philadelphia with Mrs. Ruth Strauss (piano) and Mr. Italo Taranta (music theory and chorus). While in high school, Jim sang with Fred Waring at his summer choral workshop at Penn State.
He is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School of Philadelphia. He has a bachelor’s degree in theatre from Northwestern University where he also studied conducting, orchestration, voice and music theory. He began his music ministry at Northwestern’s Sheil Catholic Center, singing in and then directing several choirs. Later he earned a Master of Music Education from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, where he studied music education under Frank Abrahams, choral conducting with James Jordan, Joe Miller and Paul Head, and handbells with Kathleen Ebling Shaw.
Jim is an active member of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM), on the board of the NPM Metuchen, NJ Chapter, and is the Music Reviews Editor of NPM’s print journal Pastoral Music and online newsletter Notebook. He is the moderator of both the NPM Choir Director Section Facebook group and the Fred Waring Choral Music Workshop Alums Facebook group. His choral arrangements Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head and My Hope, My Salvation, My All are published by GIA Publications.
This is Jim’s second year directing the NPM Metuchen Summer Choral Festival.
Megan Calabro,
Co-conductor
Megan Calabro is a Board Certified Music Therapist, and primary cantor at St. Mary’s Stony Hill in Watchung, where she has been singing since September 2022.
Megan began her involvement in liturgical music as a member of the children’s choir at her grade school, before joining the children’s handbell choir at Our Lady of the Mount, Warren, NJ. She continued participating in music ministry throughout high school and into college as a cantor and member of the adult choir, mixed chorale, women’s ensemble, and handbell choir at Our Lady of the Mount.
Following her desire to combine her love of music and healthcare, Megan obtained her undergraduate degree in Music Therapy at Immaculata College, where she studied voice. During her time at Immaculata, she was offered her first professional opportunity in music ministry, directing an adult choir at St. Clare Church in Linfield, PA. Upon finishing her undergraduate degree, Megan continued working in liturgical music, while building the pediatric music therapy program at Atlantic Health System’s Goryeb Children’s Hospital, where she has been practicing since 2004.
Megan’s many experiences in music ministry include directing vocal, a cappella, and instrumental ensembles, and leading congregations in sung prayer as a cantor.
She has pursued continuing education in music therapy, completing a master’s degree in Music Therapy from Immaculata University in 2012, and obtaining additional specializations for early childhood, NICU Music Therapy, and wellness, before becoming a Master Certified Health Coach in 2023.
Megan is a member of the Caritas Chamber Chorale (soprano), and is an active member of the NPM Metuchen Chapter, where she currently serves as the chapter director.
David Jules
Co-conductor
David Jules has devoted over four decades to enriching sacred music and music education in New Jersey. Since 2003, he has served as Director of Sacred Music at St. Matthew the Apostle Church in Edison, where he conducts both the Adult Choir and Handbell Choir. Under his direction, the Adult Choir embarked on a performance tour of Germany and Austria in 2007, while his Handbell Choir has distinguished itself through performances at numerous National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) handbell festivals as well as Handbell Musicians of America Conferences in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
His multifaceted role at St. Matthew also includes serving as Music Teacher and Drama Director for the K-8 Catholic school, and since 2021, as Parish Catechetical Leader. A graduate of Seton Hall University with degrees in Communication and Music Education, Jules studied under the distinguished Jeanette Hile.
His previous appointments include positions as Choir Director at St. Joseph the Carpenter Church in Roselle and Music Teacher at St. John the Apostle in Clark. A dedicated NPM member since 1981, David currently serves on the executive board of the Metuchen Chapter, where he continues to advance the organization's mission of fostering the art of musical liturgy.
Wendy Relation,
Accompanist
Wendy Relation is the accompanist for the adult choir of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Whitehouse Station, NJ. She previously served as Co-Director of Liturgical Music at St. Joseph Church in Sylvania, OH, and also taught general and instrumental music. Wendy currently teaches Lower School Music at Gill St. Bernard's School, and accompanies various choirs in the area.
Wendy is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University School of Music and Notre Dame Law School.
This is Wendy’s second year as Festival accompanist.
Questions? Contact us at NPMChoralFestival@gmail.com.