We are pleased to welcome Woodson “Woody” Faulkner throughout the season of Lent as our “Visiting Choral Director & Organist.”
Woody is familiar to First Baptist Greensboro, having joined us as Organist periodically in recent months. We are grateful for the ongoing interim music ministry of Rev. Seth Hix, who will continue to coordinate and oversee music ministry as Woody covers work with Sanctuary Choir through Easter Sunday.
Woody is a graduate of Greensboro College with a Bachelor of Music degree in Organ and Church Music subsequently attending UNCG for post-graduate study in choral conducting, voice training and music education. Mr. Faulkner currently serves as Accompanist, Assistant Director, and Vocal Coach for the Burlington Boys Choir since 1999 with tours to New York, Atlanta, Toronto, Mexico,Vienna, and NC, and is a voice instructor at the Music Academy of NC. He recently retired from his position as Choir Director/Organist at First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ from 2017-2024. He sang with the Bel Canto Company of Greensboro for 20+ years appearing numerous times with the ensemble as soloist. He was a featured soloist with the Company in their appearance at the Hinshaw Music Festival held in Raleigh August of 2014 and also in 2015 where he was again soloist in the 2nd Premier of John Rutter’s Six Canticles of Light. In 2007 Mr. Faulkner became the Choir Director/Organist at Wake Forest Baptist Church, Winston-Salem and on Sept. 11, 2011 in Wait Chapel, Mr. Faulkner conducted the premiere performance of Angels and Fireflies written by Kevin Malone for solo flute and string orchestra for the 10th anniversary commemorating the tragic events of 9-11. The performance was simulcast to the Imperial War Museum in Manchester, England and radio broadcast live from Wake Forest on local NPR station WFDD.
Mr. Faulkner was Artistic Director and Founding Conductor of the Triad Pride Men’s Chorus from 1998 to 2012. His professional credits include appearances conducting TPMC at the International Festival of Gay and Lesbian Choruses (GALA) in Montreal, Miami, Denver, and at a regional conference in Cincinnati, OH. He has also sung professionally under the direction of the late Robert Shaw at Carnegie Hall and has performed as singer/assistant director of The Desert Chorale of Santa Fe, NM in four summer seasons.
Among his other artistic endeavors, Mr. Faulkner is a past Board President of Greensboro Opera and was recently a featured writer for the O.Henry Magazine in the July 2014 issue, and the January 2025 issue. He has been a presenter/speaker at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Didactic Seminar on Arts and Healing for Chaplaincy program May 25, 2012, a guest presenter at the SEA (Southern Entrepreneur in the Arts) Conference at UNCG in Feb. 2012, Music Director/Arranger/Actor for the Touring Theatre Ensemble of NC from 1995-2004. Mr. Faulkner also holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University.
Woody lives in Fisher Park with his spouse, John, of 36 years.
