The John Ellis Endowment

John Ellis Endowment Supports Choral Music in Western Montana

The John Ellis Endowment (JEE) for Liturgical Music is an independent non-profit organization created to honor and commemorate organist and church musician John Ellis. JEE promotes liturgical music in western Montana through concerts and by sponsoring internships at Holy Spirit for aspiring church musicians.


John Ellis was organist and latterly choirmaster at Holy Spirit from 1969 until 1992, when he passed away from complications related to AIDS. He also was Professor of Music at the University of Montana during that same period. He trained many organ students during this time, was the university organist and was well-known for his noon-time carillon concerts.


Over the years, the JEE has hosted many memorable concerts including ones by the Vienna Boys Choir, Chanticleer, and New York Polyphony, bringing the beauty of liturgical music to Missoula and the greater western Montana community. With the aid of the Holy Spirit Social Concerns committee, the JEE produced a CD of sacred music specifically for people in hospice situations. The CD is free and available upon request.


The organization has sponsored more than 10 interns: Many are now established church musicians in congregations throughout the U.S. Read more about them by clicking on the intern tab on the main Music page.


Artistic Director Dr. Nancy J. Cooper teaches organ at UM’s School of Music and is music director at Holy Spirit. She received her B.A. in organ performance from Centenary College of Louisiana and her Masters of Music in organ and Doctor of Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music.


Current Board of Directors:

  • Dr. Nancy Cooper, Artistic Director (CoooperN@mso.umt.edu)
  • Bruce Bowler, President (bruceebowler@gmail.com)
  • Lance Collister, Vice-President
  • Lisa Scott, Treasurer
  • Sue Talbot, Secretary
  • Jeannie Warner
  • Don Gisselbeck
  • Rev. Terri Grotzinger
  • Gary Clark
  • Steven Hesla


Former Intern Pursues Doctorate in Ethnomusicology

Emily Silks is a PhD Candidate and Graduate Instructor in Ethnomusicology at the University of

Washington, currently serving as the Archivist at Northwest Folklife. In their doctoral research,

Emily works at the intersection of music archiving, festival production, and cultural arts

sustainability through collaborative projects with local non-profits and artists in Seattle. Emily

continues to play organ on special occasions and participates in music events at Christ

Episcopal Church and Mount Baker Park Presbyterian Church in Seattle. Outside of their

professional pursuits, Emily enjoys cycling throughout the Pacific Northwest and indulging in

home-cooked meals.

Updates from other interns: 


Anna Martin-Boyle is a Ph.D. candidate in computer science at the University of Minnesota; during the summer of 2025, she has been a research intern at NASA.

Gretchen Mundinger is Director of Youth and Family Ministries, and Director of Music Ministries/Organist, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Helena, MT.

Ty Lundman is Director of Music Ministries at White Plains Presbyterian Church, White Plains, NY.

Dr. Benjamin Cornelius-Bates completed his Doctorate in Music Composition at West Virgina University in 2020. Currently he is an Assistant Professor of Musicianship at Duquesne University and Director of Music at Church of the Redeemer in Squirrel Hill. As a composer, Benjamin has had his compositions played throughout the world, including the United States, Canada, England and much of Europe. His Sonata, No. 1, was premiered at the 2018 National

Convention for the American Guild of Organists in Kansas City. Most recently, Ben was commissioned to write a piece in memory of Lydia Speller, titled Fantasia on “I wonder…”, which was premiered in March of 2022. Benjamin has also competed internationally as an improvisor

in France, Germany, and the United States. He has also done work in the liturgical and sacred music world, including participation in a National Pastoral Musician’s Ministry Monday podcast in 2021 demonstrating practical liturgical improvisations. Benjamin has begun arranging music of women and composers of color to help diversify and promote a more equitable and representative repertoire. Some of these scores can be found on his IMSLP page under “As Arranger” tab.