Our Staff

Ben Outen is Organist and Choirmaster of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Charlotte, North Carolina where he founded The Boys Choir at St. Peter’s in 1993, The Girls Choir at St. Peter’s in 1998, and The MasterSingers at St. Peter’s in 2003. Previously he served as Music Director of the First Presbyterian Church, Belmont, North Carolina; Music Director of the Charlotte Choir Boys; and Organ Scholar at Trinity Church on the Green, New Haven, Connecticut. Mr. Outen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music from Furman University and a Master’s degree in Music from Yale University. He has served on the staffs of the Montreat Music Conference and the Royal School of Church Music Winston Salem, Raleigh, and Carolinas Courses. He has participated in workshops with Sir David Willcocks, Phillip Brunelle, Lionel Rogg, James Jordan, and Alex Theimer. Mr. Outen is a member of the Royal School of Church Music, American Guild of Organists and the Anglican Association of Musicians. Mr. Outen’s background includes work on the stage and in the pit with local community and professional theater and opera companies.

Kay Johnson is the Managing Director of The Choir School at St. Peter’s. She is an alumni parent of two boys and a girl who have graduated from the choir. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from North Carolina State University and a Masters in Business Administration from WVCOGS, now a component of Marshall University. Having been with the choir since its inception in 1993, Mrs. Johnson is responsible for marketing, fund raising, tour arrangements, program scheduling, volunteer and office management.

Aaron Goen joins us in 2009 as Assistant Organist and Choirmaster at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Accompanist for The Choir School at St. Peter’s. Formerly from San Diego, CA, Mr. Goen holds a BM in organ performance from Vanderbilt University and an MM in Organ Performance from Indiana University. He comes to us from Old St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Baltimore, MD where he was Assistant Organist and Choirmaster for the parish and taught their Boys Choir and Girls Choir.