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Moravian Music Foundation

Preserving, Sharing, and Celebrating Moravian Musical Culture

The Moravian Music Foundation is PEOPLE
… with a high level of experience and expertise!

Celebrating Excellence

No two people better exemplify this than our director and assistant director,
who have served 30 years and 15 years, respectively.

Rev. Nola Reed Knouse, Ph.D.

Rev. Nola Reed Knouse, Ph.D.

Director
Winston-Salem office

Gwyneth Michel

Gwyneth Michel

Assistant Director
Bethlehem office

Career Accomplishments:
The Rev. Nola R. Knouse, Ph.D.

Nola began her service at the Moravian Music Foundation as Director of Research and Programs in June of 1992,
and became Director in March of 1994.

During her tenure, the Foundation has:

  • microfilmed the music holdings in Bethlehem and Winston-Salem (1996-1998);
  • designed, built, and occupied the Archie K. Davis Center, housing the Moravian Archives (Southern Province) and Moravian Music Foundation (dedicated in September 2001);
  • converted the library/archival card catalog to electronic records and uploaded to worldcat.org (searchable worldwide) – the GemeinKat project;
  • begun a robust series of CD recordings of Moravian music, now being made available for streaming;
  • launched the Moravian Star Anthem Series, with over 100 Moravian anthems published, about 1/3 of which are by living Moravian composers;
  • maintained a lending library of out-of-print music
  • provided music editing services for the 1995 Moravian Book of Worship;
  • published Moravian Chorales and Music, Volume 2 – the “blue” band chorale books;
  • published Singing from the Heart and Sing to the Lord a New Song in collaboration with IBOC;
  • held annual “Music on the Mountain” Moravian Music Weekends at Laurel Ridge and other music weekends, workshops, etc.;
  • assumed full responsibility and “ownership” of Moravian Music Festivals from the provinces;
  • sponsored the 3rd Unity Brass Festival in Winston-Salem, hosting musicians from around the world (2018);
  • established a permanent Bethlehem office for the Moravian Music Foundation;
  • presented monthly musical and historical lectures in partnership with the Moravian Archives;
  • created and expanded a vital online presence;
  • created and shared numerous educational videos, including lectures, concerts, and instructional;
  • welcomed researchers, students, musicians from around the world to tour and use the archival collections;
  • supported two performing vocal ensembles, Unitas Chorale and Moramus Chorale;
  • collaborated with countless churches and musical groups presenting concerts or recording Moravian music.

To the extent that time allowed, Knouse has continued scholarly work, editing and writing The Music of the Moravian Church in America (published 2008), and nearing completion of Preserving, Sharing, Celebrating: A History of the Moravian Music Foundation.

Nola has affirmed that all of these things could happen only with a great staff and a supportive Board of Trustees, recognizing that it takes a group of dedicated and gifted people to do things like these, and MMF has been richly blessed, in both the staff members and the Board. The trustees also all agree with Nola that none of these things could have happened without our donors and friends.

Career Accomplishments:
Gwyneth Michel

Gwyn has served as Assistant Director (Bethlehem Office) since November of 2007.
Arriving at MMF after 30 years in the music publishing industry, the Foundation has benefited greatly from her extensive skills and experience as a music editor and producer. As the sole staff member in Bethlehem, she has gracefully managed a variety of administrative responsibilities there, and is the primary point of contact with the Moravian Archives (Northern Province).

During her tenure, she has:

  • edited and produced all the Foundation’s publications and recordings since 2007;
  • conducted the Unitas Chorale since 2012;
  • presented a plethora of workshops in congregations and musical organizations;
  • lectured and guided students at Moravian Theological Seminary, Moravian University, and Rollins College;
  • devoted countless hours to work on Moravian Music Festivals;
  • been quite active in the re-establishment of a children’s program in Moravian Music Festivals beginning in 2013, which was the first children’s program at a Festival since 1992.
  • assisted greatly throughout the catalog-conversion project – GemeinKat project;
  • provided invaluable work with all of the Foundation’s other projects;
  • represented MMF at many provincial and district synods, often involved in worship planning and leadership;
  • represented North American Moravians at international conferences, festivals, meetings, missions, etc.
  • spearheaded the denominational recording sessions in response to the COVID-9 crisis, providing a great many hymns available online for congregational use;
  • maintained a lending library of out-of-print music
  • published Singing from the Heart and Sing to the Lord a New Song in collaboration with IBOC;
  • led or assisted with the annual “Music on the Mountain” Moravian Music Weekends at Laurel Ridge and other music weekends, workshops, etc.;
  • welcomed researchers, students, musicians from around the world to tour and use the archival collections;
  • collaborated with countless churches and musical groups presenting concerts or recording Moravian music.

As the sole staff member in Bethlehem, she has gracefully managed a variety of administrative responsibilities there, and cultivated a productive symbiotic relationship with the Moravian Archives (Northern Province).

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