Staff Musicians

Paul Thornock, Director of Music

Paul Thornock is Director of Music and Organist at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah, Georgia, where he conducts the semi-professional Cathedral Choir, the fully professional Choral Scholars, and acts as Artistic Director for the Friends of Cathedral Music concert series. In 2022, he was appointed Chorus Master for the Savannah Philharmonic.

For sixteen years, Thornock was Cathedral Director of Music and Diocesan Music Consultant for Saint Joseph Cathedral in the Catholic Diocese of Columbus, Ohio. He released two choral CD recordings from the Cathedral and was responsible for commissioning the Cathedral’s Paul Fritts and Co. organ. In addition to his cathedral responsibilities, he served on the faculty at Capital University Conservatory of Music and Trinity Lutheran Seminary teaching organ literature. More recently, Dr. Thornock was Director of Music at St. James Cathedral in Seattle and taught organ at the University of Puget Sound.

Dr. Thornock has performed for regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists, the Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians, the national convention of the Organ Historical Society, the American Institute of OrganBuilders, and has been heard as both an organist and conductor on the nationally syndicated radio programs Pipedreams and With Heart and Voice and was a first-place winner in the Strader Organ Playing Competition. In 2012, Thornock was awarded a grant from the Tangeman Sacred Music Center to record four organs by Paul Fritts and Co., chronicling the firm’s evolution over four decades.

He earned the Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Puget Sound where he studied organ with Edward Hansen and conducting with Paul Schultz. He earned the Master of Music in Organ Performance and Literature degree from the University of Notre Dame as a student of Craig Cramer. While at Notre Dame, he was graduate assistant organist at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart under Gail Walton. Thornock earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music as a student of Roberta Gary.

Dr. Thornock is also active as an organ consultant. He has been responsible for more than thirty projects, including restorations, “transplants,” and the commissioning of new organs. Recent projects include two organs by Paul Fritts & Co. for Hillsdale College in Michigan, three instruments by Juget-Sinclair for the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond, Virginia, and the restoration and renovation of the Noack organ at the Savannah Cathedral.

Jillian Durant

Jillian Durant, soprano, is a versatile and dynamic performing artist who was recently named Savannah’s Best Local Vocalist by Connect Savannah. Known for her soaring high notes and effortless legato, Jillian has been performing recitals and masterworks since 2012 – most notably for The Friends of Cathedral Music, The Savannah Philharmonic, Moon River Opera, Savannah Arts Academy, Georgia Southern University, and Savannah State University.

Jillian earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in vocal performance from Georgia Southern University, where she held leadership roles with Georgia Southern Opera and the award-winning Southern Chorale. As a local recitalist, Jillian has performed with the Savannah Music Festival and the American Traditions Competition.

Jillian’s current appointments include serving as staff soprano section leader and soloist at The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, Administrator for the Friends of Cathedral Music, and maintaining a private voice studio.

Nancy Thornock

Nancy Thornock, soprano and Cathedral Children’s Choir Director, completed her musical training at Pacific Lutheran University where she studied voice with Mira Frohnmayer and sang with the Choir of the West under the direction of Dr. Richard Sparks. Nancy has been an active soloist and section leader for the past 20 years in three Cathedrals and most recently with St. John’s Episcopal Church in Olympia, WA. Nancy has performed with the Columbus Bach Ensemble, Lancaster Chorale, Columbus ProMusica, and several other professional ensembles.

Colin Harrison

Colin Harrison, bass-baritone, grew up in Savannah and received his Bachelor’s of Music Education degree from Georgia Southern University in nearby Statesboro. Colin has served as a Bass Choral Scholar for the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist since 2020 and enjoys singing and performing high quality repertoire with great musicians each week. Colin has served as a public school music educator, community chorus director, and taught private music lessons for several years. Colin also sings with the Servire Chorus, a professional choral ensemble focusing on serving our community and the world at large through service projects, educational outreach, and benefit concerts. Currently, he is finishing up a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from South University.

Braelyn Snow

Braelyn Snow, mezzo-soprano, has been singing at the Cathedral since 2016 and with the Cathedral Choral Scholars since 2020. She performed and competed in choirs and instrumental ensembles throughout high school and her undergraduate studies at Indiana Wesleyan University. During her time in Savannah, she canted at Christ Church Anglican’s Compline services and has done various ensemble and solo performance work. Braelyn holds an MFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design and has taught art and music, both in schools and private lessons. She has participated in several musical theatre productions, performing on stage and working on set and costume design. She believes music is the language of heaven.

Sharon Mays

Sharon Mays, soprano, is a Choral Scholar of the Cathedral and a conductor of the Schola Stella Maris for the Latin Mass at Sacred Heart Church. She also serves as Artistic Manager of the Savannah Philharmonic. She has performed with Highland Consort, Taylor Festival Choir, Selwyn College Chapel Choir, Cambridge University Chamber Choir, Chorworks Young Artists Program, Samford University A Cappella Choir, and Choir of the Cathedral Church of the Advent (Birmingham, AL). Sharon received her Bachelor of Music in Sacred Music from Samford University and her Master of Music in Choral Studies from the University of Cambridge, with additional studies in Gregorian chant from the Catholic Institute for Sacred Music.

Andrew Whitlow

Andrew Whitlow, tenor, is a conductor and singer with interests ranging from sacred chamber music to barbershop. He holds a B.M. in Church Musicand an M.M. in Choral Conducting from Furman University and East Carolina University, respectively.  Andrew has held several directorship positions, including past duties as Music Director of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Rocky Mount, NC. He currently serves as Director of Fine Arts Operations and Choir Director at Calvary Day School in Savannah, GA.  In addition to his scholastic work, Andrew is the co-founder and artistic director of Servire Chorus, a professional choral ensemble with a mission to aid local non-profit organizations through the means of benefit concerts, educational outreach, and hands-on service projects.  Whitlow has also enjoyed performing experiences with Chorworks Early Music, Duke’s Bach Cantata Series, Chicora Voices, and as a staff singer and featured soloist at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Savannah, GA.

Zachary Boor

Zachary Boor, countertenor, earned his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Valparaiso University in 2016, studying voice with Dr. Christopher Cock. During his undergraduate career, Zachary was twice named the winner of the Valparaiso University Concerto Competition, honored as a finalist in the Audrey Rooney Vocal Competition with the Kentucky Bach Choir, and as a semi-finalist in the Classical Singer University Level Vocal Competition. Prior to relocating to Savannah, Georgia, Zachary resided in Columbus, Ohio, where he collaborated most recently with the Schola at St. Joseph Cathedral.

Greg Shell

Greg Shell, music administrator, has been serving the Cathedral Choir and Friends of Cathedral Music in a multitude of duties since moving to Savannah in 2021. Greg maintains the Cathedral Basilica’s large Music Library, assists the Friends of Cathedral Music for concert set up, keeps the choir happy with multiple choir fellowship opportunities throughout the season, and in general keeps us organized! We are very thankful for Greg!

Jodi Lea

Jodi Lea is a bass section leader at The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. After his early musical pursuits in Danville, Virginia culminated in becoming a first chair All-State
saxophonist, Jodi attended Furman University, receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Music studying bel canto under Ms. Tamara Matthews. While attending Furman, he was a member of many different music groups, including the Furman Singers and Barbershop Quartet, Chamber Choir, Jazz Ensemble, Woodwind Quartet, and many others. His undergraduate education also resulted in winning the university’s talent show (alongside
immensely talented friends), singing in beautiful cathedrals across the United States and Europe, as well as co-founding a student-led early music a cappella choir known as The Twelve Peers. More recently, Jodi has worked extensively as a core member of Servire, a choir-based non-profit with the mission of “offering a helping hand to communities and organizations in need through our collective voices and service.” From Motown to Mozart, Jodi’s diverse background as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist has afforded him exploration across what he hopes, ultimately, can be reflected upon as an open mind in humble pursuit of the near-gamut of musical expression. It is only fitting, as he believes
music to be the one, true universal language; a force with undeniable inertia, capable of expressing the breadth of the human condition, its existentialities, and its many challenges
with the utmost tact.

A recent transplant from Pittsburgh, Jodi enjoys pursuing voice-over opportunities, playing tennis, and cooking for friends and family in his free time.