Justin Appel

EDITOR’S NOTE: A church community is created when people gather together for the love of God. At the same time, Saint Philip’s is comprised of many people who represent different ages, life experiences, and world views.

The “In conversation…” series is one attempt to create possibilities for connection between the different people in our community. As varied as we all are, there are also similarities and mutual interests waiting to be discovered. And there is one thing we all share: a desire to know God and be in relationship with him.

This week’s conversation is with Saint Philip’s Director of Music, Justin Appel.

How long have you worked at Saint Philip’s?
Six and a half years.

What did you do just before you came to Saint Philip’s?
I was a doctoral student at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

What drew you to Saint Philip’s?
It was a combination of things. One major draw was that the parish already had a relationship with the Royal School of Church Music for children and was doing residencies in England.

I applied largely for academic jobs but as soon as I learned more about Saint Philip’s I knew this is where I wanted to be and what I wanted to do.

What’s something you really appreciate about Saint Philip’s?
The parish has a wonderful musical tradition that’s been part of the Tucson community for decades. But it also has a beautiful campus and parishioners who have high standards, and, of course, the many young families with children who have made Saint Philip’s their home. All those elements imbue the parish with an energy that makes a difference in the community.

Where did you grow up?
All over the place. I was born in Orange County and then my family lived on the west side of Washington state for a number of years. During my middle school and teenage years, I lived in north central Washington with a short stint in Colorado.

Were you raised in a faith tradition?
I was raised in a non-denominational evangelical church. There was also at least one home church in the mix.

What’s a home church?
That’s the name given to a group of evangelicals who worship in private homes. It stems from that group of people seeing themselves as independent enough to have their own organization—rather than joining an existing denomination. My experience is that it occurs in an agrarian setting where people are used to doing things for themselves.

How would you describe your faith today?
I’ve been exposed to a variety of faith approaches. I worked in a Reformed church for a number of years, as well as in the Presbyterian and Lutheran denominations. I attended a Lutheran university and Notre Dame is Roman Catholic. I also have close friends in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Liturgically and musically, I’m very comfortable in the English prayer book tradition with a special interest in Eastern Orthodox influences.

You switched emphasis in college. What prompted the change?
When I first attended college, I was a performance-oriented musician. I played the piano. But as I continued to study, I became more interested in functional music—in something that plays a larger role. Liturgical music does that.

Why do you provide translations of what is sung on Sundays?
Saint Philip’s offers a large variety of texts. Some are drawn from the Bible, some are English religious poetry, and others are historical liturgies from east and west.

As the choir serves as a representative body of the congregation—and offers something on behalf of the whole congregation—it’s important for worshipers to understand the content of what is sung. The choir’s singing is less about performance than it is about participating in the flow of the liturgy.

If money were no object what would you love to see Saint Philip’s do?
It would be lovely to create a foundation to support the UK residencies. That’s a service opportunity with tremendous formation value for everyone involved but especially for youth choristers.

Participating in the residency brings together the different aspects of what the choristers work on every week—Sunday to Sunday: the liturgy, service, outreach, and formation. It combines the technical aspects of singing, learning how to be a musician, and the vocational aspects of participating in worship. It also helps the choristers know where they belong within a church system. That’s a really difficult thing to teach, but the residency has the capacity to let them experience it. I think it’s important for that piece of formation to keep happening.

Do you have a favorite prayer?
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

What about that prayer makes it one of your favorites?
It’s easy to repeat and, therefore, accompanies me easily during difficult times. It’s also part of a tradition that emphasizes continuous prayer. (The prayer also promotes a humble posture, reminding me that I rely on God's life-giving mercy.)

What’s one of your guiding principles?
The quote attributed to Saint Seraphim of Sarov: “Acquire the Spirit of Peace and a thousand souls around you will be saved.”

The older I get the more I see that the important work that needs to be done in the world first needs to be done inside of me. And that the work of my life is to become united to Christ.

What’s something you’re grateful for?
I’m grateful for the sort of counter-cultural, agrarian upbringing I had. I am the youngest of three boys and we were first generation home-schoolers; my parents home-schooled when it was barely understood as an option. I spent a year during middle school helping my family build our home. We lived off the electrical grid from when I was 10 until I was 16 years old.

What’s something from that experience you carry with you?
A deep appreciation for the natural world. We lived on the edge of a mountain meadow with open land and postcard-perfect scenery, including snowy mountains in the background. I could walk out my door and go cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, or biking.

If you couldn’t fail, what’s something you’d like to do?
Be involved in a quasi-monastic institution that combines educational goals and spiritual formation, and which would form an alternative to university.

What do you do just for fun?
I enjoy listening to audio books on a variety of subjects: theology, cultural stuff, and good fiction.

I also like to cook comfort food—which for me means the food we eat on Thanksgiving Day. Lest you think I do that every night, know that I do that maybe once a month.

What might people be surprised to learn about you?
That I was a really good collaborative piano player. I don’t remember choosing the piano as an instrument but I’ve played since I was six years old.

Growing up our family would rock out to classical music. We would turn up the volume on the 1812 Overture (Full with Cannons), open the windows, and let it rip!

What’s a fun fact about you?
I’m married and a father of five but I lived in a Benedictine monastery for a week. That’s where I learned about Gregorian Chant.

Missed an interview? All previous interviews can be found on Saint Philip’s website under the “About Us” tab. Click here to visit that page.