Saint Michael & All Angels

James Diaz
Director of Music

James Diaz is the First Prize winner of the 2000 Dallas International Organ Competition, and the Gold Medal and Concerto Prize winner of the 1994 Calgary International Organ Competition. He also took First Prize at the Fort Wayne National Organ Competition in 1994. In addition to giving solo recitals in North America, Europe, and Asia, Mr. Diaz has given the world premiere of two organ and orchestra works by Pulitzer Prize winning composers: in 2002 he appeared with the Dallas Symphony in the premiere of Joseph Schwantner’s September Canticle, and in 1994 he premiered Gunther Schuller’s Concerto for Organ and Orchestra with the Calgary Philharmonic. He has recorded a solo CD for Delos International at the Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, and his recording of the Schuller concerto has been released by New World Records. Mr. Diaz is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Michigan, where he studied organ with Robert Glasgow and piano with Dickran Atamian. He holds a master’s degree in Organ Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with Todd Wilson and worked under Karel Paukert at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Cleveland Heights. Following service as assistant organist and choirmaster at Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis, in 1998 he was appointed Organist and Choirmaster at Saint Michael and All Angels Church in Dallas, one of the largest Episcopal churches in the United States.

Hyeon Jeong
Associate Director of Music

Hyeon Jeong, the first prize winner of the Fort Wayne National Organ Competition and the Flint International Organ Competition, holds the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Organ Performance from the University of Michigan, where she was granted the Regent Fellowship.  During her doctoral study she was appointed as a Teaching Assistant of the Organ Department and since graduation has taught at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis.  In 1998, she was appointed Associate Organist and Choirmaster at Saint Michael and All Angels Church in Dallas, one of the largest Episcopal churches in the United States. 

She has received numerous awards and honors such as the Rackham Grant and Dean’s Grant from the University of Michigan, the Graduate Scholarship from the University of Cincinnati, and the President Honor Scholarship from Yonsei University.  Her other awards in organ performance include the top prize in the Mader National Organ Competition and the runner-up prize in the Dublin-Ireland International Organ Competition.  She also received a medal as one of four Lauréats in the Concours International d'Orgue Grand Prix de Chartres, and was invited to the Premier Concours International d'Orgue de la Ville de Paris-France and the Odense-Denmark International Organ Competition.

Dr. Jeong keeps an active recital schedule, including performances for the opening concert at the AGO Region IX Convention, St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco, Christ Church Cathedral in New Orleans, St. John’s Cathedral in Cleveland, Aeolian Hall in London, Ontario, the University of Evansville, and other concert halls and churches in Cleveland, Dallas, San Jose, Cincinnati, Ann Arbor, Detroit, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Akron, Lakewood, Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Pontiac, Charlottesville, and Seoul, Korea.  In addition to giving many organ recitals, she actively performs on harpsichord as both soloist and ensemble member.  Her performances have been featured on many broadcasts including NPR's nationally broadcast Pipedreams.