The Reverend Tanya R. Wallace
The Rev. Canon Tanya R. Wallace, a native of Greenfield, Massachusetts, has served the Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Western Massachusetts, Washington, Newark, New York and Vermont.
A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, she completed the Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in Women’s Studies and Religion. After college, she worked for the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC as a part of the Cathedral Volunteer Service Community, and served as Employment Services Caseworker with homeless program participants at Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington. She then became the Director of Social Services at Boulevard Seniors in Passaic, NJ, while serving at the Church of the Transfiguration in Towaco, NJ. In 2000, she graduated from the Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, earning a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Religion and Education; upon graduation, she was awarded the Maxwell Fellowship for Highest Promise of Excellence in Parish Ministry. After serving as Seminarian Assistant at the Church of St. Luke in the Fields, as Curate at the Church of the Ascension, both in Greenwich Village, and as Adjunct Professor at Union Theological Seminary (all in New York City), she was called to be Canon Educator at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Burlington, VT. During her seven-year tenure at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Canon Wallace also served on the Cathedral Chapter and the Executive Committee of Diocesan Council, Chaired the Commission on Ministry, and was elected Clergy Deputy to General Convention.
Rev. Tanya became Rector of All Saints' Church in 2009, and Founding Director of the Lawrence House Service Corps in 2014. She loves walking with people -- long-time parishioners, newcomers, Mount Holyoke students, and Lawrence House interns -- as they grow more deeply into the fullness of who God is calling them to be. She is especially passionate about building bridges between seemingly disparate people, communities, and/or ideas, and loves being able to engage that work with the faithful people of South Hadley. In the Diocese of Western MA she has served as Safe Church Officer and President of the Disciplinary Board, Dean of the Franklin-Hampshire Clericus, and Chair of the General Convention deputation. She is currently a member of the Executive Council (international board of directors) of The Episcopal Church.
Rev. Tanya enjoys water sports, photography, knitting, and travel with her partner and their 17-year-old daughter (and has, by nature of being a swim parent, become a stroke and turn judge for competitive swimming!).
Email Rev. Tanya at allsaintschurchrector@gmail.com
Dr. Ernie May, Director of Music and Organist
Dr. May is Professor Emeritus of Organ and Musicology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where, in addition to teaching, he served as Chair of the Department of Music and Dance (1988-2000) and Secretary (Head) of the Faculty Senate (2000-2015). Beginning as a boy chorister at Calvary Episcopal Church in Summit, N.J. in the 1950s, he has served in varied organist/music director positions from the age of 12, including St. George’s English Church, Paris, France; the Princeton University Chapel (assistant to Carl Weinrich); St. James’ Episcopal Church, Greenfield MA (1976-84); and South Congregational Church, Springfield, MA (1984-2006), prior to his appointment at All Saints’ in South Hadley (2018). He has presented organ recitals locally, in Germany and New York City, and produced a CD—Music for Trumpet and Organ--with trumpeter Walter Chesnut. As a musicologist with concentrations in 18th-century music and postmodern music, he is recognized for his expertise in the music of Bach (see J. S. Bach as Organist: His Instruments, Music and Performance Practices (Indiana University Press [1986], co-edited by Ernest May and George Stauffer). As a choral conductor, he has conducted performances of Bach Cantatas #80 and 192; Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Magnificat; Handel’s Messiah; Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Mass in C Minor, and Requiem; Mendelssohn’s Elijah; Rossini’s Stabat Mater; Brahms’s Requiem; Bruckner’s Te Deum; Poulenc’s Gloria; and Rutter’s Gloria, Magnificat, and Requiem. He is also co-organizer (with Dr. Erinn Knyt) of the international Bach Symposia presented at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2015, 2017, and 2019. His academic degrees are an A.B. from Harvard (1964) and Ph.D. from Princeton (1975). In addition, he studied organ with Andre´ Marchal and theory/conducting with Nadia Boulanger in Paris (1964-1966). Dr. May resides in South Amherst with his wife Mary (also an organist/music director, at Center Church in Brattleboro VT) and two labs, Brandy and Casey. He is the father of seven children, grandfather of eight, and great-grandfather of one.
All Saints’ is blessed with magnificent facilities for sacred music. The vision for choral music at All Saints’ is eclectic, with selections ranging from Anglican chant and Renaissance polyphony through the canonic masterpieces of sacred music to Gospel and other contemporary genres. All are welcome to join the choir (“Voices of All Saints’”). Regular rehearsals are Thursdays at 7:00 to 8:15pm and Sundays at 9:30am. Please contact Ernie (413-575-6232, emay01002@comcast.net) if you are interested. Auditions are not necessary, just come to a rehearsal and try it out!
“Choirs embody the awesome power of collaboration to produce beauty—not just one voice and one tune, but many voices in harmony. Choral singers model the skills and hard work essential for citizens in a diverse democracy.” –Professor Robert Putnam, Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government.
Kyle Ransom, Cantor
Kyle Ransom has enjoyed singing with Dr. May and the choir at All Saints for 3 years. He is excited to further his commitment to All Saints’ by stepping into this new role as cantor. Outside of All Saints, he teaches choir, voice, and music theory at Springfield Central High School and the Community Music School of Springfield. He is originally from Los Angeles where he grew up amid a very musical family. He earned the Bachelor of Music in Music Education from California State University, Los Angeles and the Master of Music in Choral Conducting from University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Following the Masters degree, he relocated to Phoenix for 4 years where he sang professionally with the Grammy Award winning Phoenix Chorale and Solis Camerata.
He has since settled back down in South Hadley where he lives with his fiancee. They are both very excited about their upcoming wedding which will take place at All Saints in September!
Rachael “Jac” Essing, Pastoral Associate for Lawrence House
Eagerly, earnestly, and empathetically is how Rev. Jac Essing (she/they) approaches life. Moving from Iowa to South Hadley, MA for Lawrence House, Jac originally planned to only stay a year. And like any good love story, plans changed as they fell in love with community building and organizing. She fostered this love by serving two full terms with Lawrence House and by discerning a call to the diaconate. In the meantime, Jac graduated from Mount Holyoke College in Dec 2019, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree Magna Cum Laude in Sociology, concentrating in Non-Profit Orgs and Religion.
The love for community building and organizing continues to serve as a foundational value in both their secular work (as a Dial/Self AmeriCorps member at Enlace de Familias' House of Colors program) and their diaconal ministry (at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Holyoke). Through her experience working with youth and young adults, she understands that every person is called to growth and transformation – with and for ourselves, the community, and the world. There is power in these possibilities that sustains Jac, as does time outside, listening to audiobooks, and enjoying at least a handful of belly laughs every day.
Email Jac Essing
Don Marsh, Sexton
Don Marsh and his wife, Laura Marsh, have been members of All Saints’ since joining the church in 1978. He began working as the church Sexton over 20 years ago, around the time the new building was built. When he is not working as Sexton, he volunteers his time as Acolyte Director, training new potential acolyte leaders and also offers his time as a chalice bearer and usher. Prior to his job as Sexton, Don worked for the US Postal Service for 42 years. His wife Laura is deeply involved in our Lenten Lunch program. Laura also serves on the Altar Guild. Don enjoys spending time outdoors, working around the house and watching football.
Robert Bowler (Beau), Parish Administrator
Beau was the Parish Administrator at Immanuel Episcopal Church in Bellows Falls, Vermont for 14 years and, more recently, has served at Saints James and Andrew since early 2019. While in Bellows Falls, he managed Stone Church Arts, a concert series focused on world music, and he was also the Director of Stone Church Center, a retreat and conference center, associated with the church. Since moving to Amherst full-time in 2017, Beau has enjoyed becoming a grandfather, walking the rail trail, and the lively cultural life in the five college region.