More About John Simons

John E. Simons is Coordinating Editor of the Celebrating Grace Hymnal. Dr. Simons serves as Associate Professor of Choral and Church Music, Director of Graduate Studies, and Director of the Townsend-McAfee Institute for Church Music Studies at Mercer University’s Townsend School of Music in Macon, Georgia.  A native Texan, he holds a BME and Master of Music in Conducting from Baylor University and a DMA in Choral Conducting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  His choral conducting mentors were Euell Porter, Hugh Sanders, Richard Cox, Hilary Apfelstadt, and William P. Carroll.  Having served as a collegiate conductor, public school teacher, and church musician, Dr. Simons founded the Southern Piedmont Children's Choir in North Carolina, the North Carolina United Methodist All-State Youth Choir, the Brevard College Sacred Music Project, the Oklahoma Baptist University Church Music Camerata, the Georgia All-State CBF Youth Choir Festival, and the Mercer University Children’s Choir.  In addition to his administrative duties, he teaches graduate courses in church music and choral literature, conducts the Mercer University Men’s Choir, and coordinates the initiatives of the Townsend-McAfee Institute. Dr. Simons is married to flutist Ellen Camille Simons, and they have four children: Thomas (18), David (15), Jessica (10) and Christina (3).  In addition to church, family, school, and the hymnal project, John enjoys golf, baseball, and equestrian activities.