November 1, 2023 marks Norm's 25th anniversary as Director of Music Ministries for the parishes of St. Joseph the Worker, having served for thirteen years at Word of God Parish, then nine years at St. Maurice Parish before being named Director of SJW at the foundation of the parish in 2020.  Prior to his tenure at Word of God, Norm served in Protestant churches in Pittsburgh's North Side and North Boros, and since 2009, has been choir director at Temple David Synagogue in Monroeville.

Norm's career highlights include:

• Directing the 150-member ChoirFest choir at WOG in 2007:
  • as coordinator and host of the first of several Catholic choir collaborative concers, Norm had the privilege of directing the combined choirs of Good Shepherd, Incarnation, Madonna del Castello, St, John the Baptist, St. Maurice, and St. Robert Bellarmine Churches - about 150 singers in all - in singing John Ness Beck's choral work "Lord, Here Am I"
• Playing in recital at St. Canice's Cathedral in Kilkenny, Ireland in May, 2009 (pictured)
  • before his vacation trip in 2009, Norm contacted the Directors of several Cathedrals in Ireland, requesting permission to visit and play the organs in their Cathedrals.  The ever gracious Irish hosts granted permission to play at St Mary's (Kilkenny), St. Canice (Kilkenny), Christ Church , (Waterford), Galway, St. Patrick's (Dublin).  Much to his surprise, he received an invitation to perform in the lunchtime recital series at St. Canice!  Truly a memorable experience to perform in an 800 year old house of worship on the magnificient, recently renovated 1853 Bevington organ.  On a return trip to Dublin in September 2022, Norm revisited several of the Cathedrals and relived those precious memories (although he didn't play this time!)
• Conducting Dan Forrest's Jubilate Deo, with full orchestra, before a packed St. Maurice in 2017
  • The St. Maurice choirs, in collaboration with the choirs of Sacred Heart (Shadyside) and Temple David Synagogue (Monroeville), formed a 50+ member choir, which was accompanied by a 30 piece orchestra, performed before an audience of more than 700 at St. Maurice.
  • We look forward to reprising our performance on November 5, 2023; this time collaborating with St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Rosalia and again, Temple David.  Tickets will be available on September 1, but in the mean time, check out this performance by the Rivertree Singers.  (It's almost as good as ours will be!)
• Producing more than 50 virtual choir videos with the SJW Choirs during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • The COVID-19 pandemic created unique challenges for everyone, but made singing in church choirs potentially deadly.  Truth be told, although no one wants the return of the pandemic, Norm misses the creativity of making the virtual choir videos.
• Earning the American Guild of Organists Colleague Certification (CAGO) in 2018
• Mentoring many successful musicians.  Many of Norm's former students, and young members of our Parish Music Ministry have gone on to study music and begin successful careers.  We have music teachers, composers, church musicians, professional instrumentalists and singers, and collegeate conductors among our alumni.  Truly a legacy to be proud of!
• Hitting all three traffic lights between his house and St. Maurice Church green (only once).  You have no idea how rare of an accomplishment this is.  

Norm also serves as the coordinator for Liturgical Ministers at SJW; scheduling Greeters, Altar Servers, Lectors, EMHC and Sacristans for service at all of our weekend and weekday Masses.  

Norm lives in Forest Hills with his four-legged best friend, Leo.

Church Musician
Karen Humphrey began playing daily masses at St. Helen’s Church in East Pittsburgh in 1965 at the age
of 12. She continued throughout high school. In 1973, Karen became the main organist and choir
director at St. Helen’s. She remained in that position until the church closed in 2014. In 2015, Karen
was asked to be a part-time organist at Good Shepherd Parish and substituted regularly at St. Colman’s
Parish. Both of these churches were part of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in 2020. Karen continued to
play at both parishes as assistant to Norm Chapman, and is honored to continue in the rotation for the
parishes of St. Joseph the Worker.

Professional Career
Karen graduated from Carlow College with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education in 1974 and Duquesne
University in 1978 with a Masters in Music Education.  Karen was employed by the General Braddock School District for one year and the Franklin Regional. School District for 37 years. Teaching Elementary and Middle School General Music was so fulfilling.  Highlights include over 30 musicals, hundreds of concerts, hosting Westmoreland County Chorus three times, and creating grants to enhance the music curriculum. Karen retired in 2013.

Fun Facts
After years of keeping the Slovak traditions alive at St. Helen’s Parish, Karen joined the Western Pa
Slovak Day Committee in 2016. She quickly became the Secretary of the group and was asked to cantor
the Slovak Day Mass at Kennywood. Since then, she has cantored the mass each year, and last year, put
together a Slovak choir to sing at the annual mass. Love haluski and ceregi!
Not to be outdone, Karen’s Scottish grandfather asked her about learning to play the bagpipes. In 1980,
she took him up on the offer and started lessons. She was quickly a member of the MacDonald Pipe
Band of Pittsburgh and began competing in solo competitions. She met her Canadian husband, Mark, at
a Scottish music workshop. Mark moved to Pittsburgh and continued to be the Lead Drummer in bands
in PA and Ohio. Married in 1989, it soon became a family affair when Karen’s son, Colin, born in 1994,
learned to play the Scottish snare drum. All three were in the Balmoral Pipe Band of Pittsburgh and
later in the Durham Regional Police Pipe Band of Ontario, Canada. All three continue to enjoy Celtic
music!

Kelly Thompson began ringing in 1991 when she was a student at Good Shepherd School. After a couple of years, she took up as a teaching assistant for new ringers, helping them to learn how to read and count music as well as basic handbell techniques. She spent 8 years as a member of the Good Shepherd Bell Choir before she went to away to Seton Hill College in the fall of 2003. While at Seton Hill, she rang with the Seton Hill ringers for four years as well as continuing to come home to sub for the various bell groups. In the Fall of 2002, she was asked to take over responsibility for the newest handbell group of sixth grade ringers under the supervision of Herb Dillahunt.

After graduating from college, she moved away from home to accept a teaching position in Virginia.
When she returned home, she was part of a small group of young adults who convinced Mr. Dillahunt to
start the Alumni bell group, a group of advanced ringers that wanted to continue ringing bells beyond
high school. She spent five years ringing both positions 7 and 11 with that group. When Mr. Dillahunt left Good Shepherd Parish in 2015, Kelly stepped up to take over leadership of the bell choir. Under her direction, the bell choir was continued to act as music ministers at Good Shepherd Parish, playing for masses and special events throughout the year.

During COVID, with the help of several sets of bells, the bell choir was able to continue ringing together
while still social distancing. They were able to create several socially distanced music videos with the
help of Norm and his creativity with video and audio editing skills. They even presented two
livestreamed concerts during COVID.

Currently, the bell choir still plays for liturgies at various churches at St. Joseph the Worker Parish. They
also act as a social outreach group that travels throughout the Pittsburgh area to play for a multitude
of senior citizens groups, retirement homes, and other public events like the Westmoreland Arts and
Heritage Festival.

When she is not in front of the bell tables, Kelly is a full time English teacher with the Clairton City School
District, teaching junior and senior English classes.