OUR COMPOSERS
Sue Ellen Page
Sue Ellen Page was the Director of Choirs for Children and Youth at Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ, a position she held from 1982-2016. Areas of particular interest included creating teaching strategies and conducting techniques for un-auditioned voices of all ages; expanding the use of the fine arts in worship; and developing the congregation’s song. Sue Ellen conducted choral festivals for children and youth across the country and internationally. She prepared and taught teacher training seminars for most of the main line denominations as well as professional organizations, composed arrangements and compositions for children and youth.
Sue Ellen held undergraduate and graduate degrees from Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Music Education and Sacred Music and held adjunct faculty positions there. She also held the Specialist Diploma from the Orff-Institute, Mozarteum, in Salzburg, Austria. She was the founding Director of the Trenton Children’s Chorus, an outreach program of the church. She was a recipient of the NJ Governor's Award for excellence in the arts, and was named an honoree in the Princeton YWCA's Tribute to Women.
Sue Ellen and her husband Eric Johnson parented four children, and now have seven grandchildren. Their daughter, Amanda Page Smith, is on the faculty of the Choristers Guild Institute, a certification/education program for children's choir directors. Sue Ellen and Eric became members of the Choristers Guild Covenant Society (Legacy Giving) in 2016, and Choristers Guild was a big part of her life. She composed CGA193 Every Morning's Sun; CGA703 Peace Be With You; CGA201 Body, Mind, Spirit, Voice; CGA495 Jesus' Hands Were Kind Hands; CGA415 Sing Alleluia; and CGA504 Until We Rest in Thee. Her last work with us is a beautiful collection of Hymns and Sacred Songs Arrangements for Choirs of All Ages, CGC64 Glory to God, arranged by Mark Loria. This collection was inspired by Helen Kemp, who suggested that these beautiful pieces should be arranged for the church musician to be used in worship.
Sue Ellen Page passed away peacefully in 2016, surrounded by her family and the prayers of many friends, and is well missed.