Paul Anderson is a gifted choral director and an accomplished organist currently serving as Choir Director and Organist for St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Daphne.  He is a graduate of Boston University where he also worked on a Masters in Sacred Music.  He pursued additional studies at the Early Music Collegium in Putney, VT, the Kodaly Musical Training Institute in Wellesley, MA and the Royal School of Church Music outside London, England.  Paul earned a Choirmaster’s certificate from the American Guild of Organists, which he has served as chapter dean in both Mason City, IA and Pensacola, FL.

Early in his career, Paul sang in the Handel & Haydn Society Chorus in Boston and served on its Board of Directors.  It is the country’s oldest continuously active Arts society, and was the first (in 1816) in this country to perform Handel’s Messiah.  Paul was the founder and director of the Unicorn Singers in Mason City, Iowa, which began as an a cappella madrigal group made up of high school and adult singers.   The group went on to develop its own Renaissance feasts and to sing annually at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.

In 1985, Paul directed a 300^th Anniversary “Basically Bach Festival” in Clear Lake, Iowa.  While living in Iowa, he had the unexpected privilege to be drafted “on the spot” to accompany 2 choral sessions for the Iowa Choral Directors’ association, which were led by world-famous British composer and conductor John Rutter.  He also served as organist for the Archdiocese of Dubuque’s 175^th anniversary celebration with 3000 in attendance.   While music director at St. Pius X Church in Granger, IN, Paul led the parish choir and friends in singing for Pope John Paul II in Rome.

Paul has directed high school and church music festivals, choirs of all ages and sizes, and played organ recitals.  Since he and Ellie, his wife of 49 years, moved to Elberta to “retire” and be closer to  their children and grandchildren, Paul has served as musician at All Saints Episcopal Church in Mobile, Grace Lutheran Church in Gulf Shores and now at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Daphne.   He and Ellie met at Boston University, where they both pursued degrees in music.  Ellie still continues as a loyal soprano in the St. Paul’s Choir and teaches piano at home.