Faculty & Staff Directory

National Cathedral School (NCS) is located on the north side of the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral, at the corner of Woodley Road and Wisconsin Avenue. The NCS Athletic Center is located southeast of the intersection of 35th Street NW and Woodley Road NW.

National Cathedral School
3612 Woodley Road NW
Washington, DC 20016
Phone 202-537-6300
Fax 202-537-5743

The Agnes C. Underwood Athletic Center
National Cathedral School
3490 Woodley Road, NW
Washington, DC 20016
202-537-5081

Admissions Office
Phone 202-537-6374
Fax 202-537-2382

Email ncs_admissions@cathedral.org

Development Office
Phone 202-537-6667
Email ncsdevelopment@cathedral.org

Development Staff Directory

Communications Office/Website
Phone 202-537-6453
Email ncswebsite@cathedral.org

Extended Day Program
Phone 202-537-5623

Department

A. Scott Wood

Director of Instrumental Music

University of Illinois - BS
University of Illinois - MM

Bio

A. Scott Wood, who joined the NCS faculty in 1995, holds the Roeckelein Chair in Music and is the director of instrumental music at NCS and St. Albans School. Mr. Wood also conducts the Arlington Philharmonic and the George Washington University Orchestra, and has guest-conducted the Wolf Trap Orchestra, the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, and the Rishon-LeZion (Israel) Orchestra. In 2023, Mr. Wood was elected to the board of directors of the International Conductors Guild. He has served as a judge for the Washington Music Awards ("Wammies") and lectured for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Smithsonian Institution.
Cara Alfano

Music (Cello)

Bio

Cara Alfano is a freelance cellist, a certified Suzuki cello teacher, and a certified string teacher for area public schools. She has performed at Wolf Trap, Arena Stage, Washington Cathedral, Kennedy Center, embassies and hotels. As a graduate of Catholic University, she studied with members of the Juilliard and Tokyo String Quartets and is a student of Robert Newkirk. For the past 24 years, Ms. Alfano has taught at NCS/St. Albans and maintains a private studio.
Charles Bowers Jr.

Associate Choral Director

Ashland University - BMus
Barbra Bradley

Music Teacher (Piano and Harp)

Indiana University - MM

Bio

Barbra Bailey Bradley, who joined the NCS faculty in 1988, teaches both piano and harp. She freelances on both instruments in the D.C. area. In addition to solo work, she performs in and directs the Heatherwood Harp Ensemble. She has composed original works and created arrangements for harps in solo and ensemble genres, including eight self-published books. In addition, she has recorded three CDs. Originally from Canada, she holds degrees from the University of Western Ontario, the Western Ontario Conservatory of Music, and Indiana University, where she studied both piano and harp.
Julie DeBoer

Chorister Program Director

Lawrence University - Bachelor of Music
Lawrence University - Bachelor of Arts
Northwestern University - Master of Music
Elissa Edwards

Private Voice Teacher
Luis Garay

Music Teacher (Percussion)
Noah Getz

Music Teacher (Clarinet & Saxophone)

Oberlin Conservatory - BMus
Manhattan School of Music - MM
Florida State University - DM

Bio

Dr. Noah Getz joined the NCS faculty in 2002 as the woodwind instructor. He has performed and lectured worldwide, including appearances at the Melbourne Recital Centre, Carnegie Hall and the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. An avid chamber musician, Dr. Getz is a member of the National Gallery of Art's New Music Ensemble and and has performed with the Zohn Collective, the 21st-Century Consort, and PostClassical Ensemble. Dr. Getz holds degrees from Florida State University, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Oberlin Conservatory, and he is a musician-in-residence at American University.
Maribeth Gowen

Music Teacher (Piano)
Christen Hernandez

Director of Choral Music, Middle Grades

The Hartt School - MMEd
University of Connecticut - BA
University of Connecticut - BS
Annie Loud

Music (Violin & Viola)
Michael McCarthy

Choirmaster

Guildhall School of Music - Graduate
John Rodgers

Music Teacher (Guitar)

Bio

John Rodgers has been teaching guitar at NCS and STA for over 40 years. He studied with John Marlow at American University and Ray Chester at Peabody Conservatory and has attended master classes with many of the world's top performers. He has also served as president of the Washington Guitar Society.
Quilla Roth

Whitechapel Guild Coordinator
Tom Sheehan

Organist
Charlotte Stewart

Voice Teacher

Southern Methodist University - BMus
University of Miami - MM

Bio

Charlotte Stewart '05 grew up singing as a chorister at the National Cathedral as she attended NCS; she returned to the school in 2012 as a voice instructor. She has sung at numerous internationally televised state services and events and has had the honor of singing for five presidents and their vice presidents and Cabinets. A soprano, Ms. Stewart has performed in many opera productions, including Der Rosenkavelier with Renée Fleming. She holds music degrees in vocal performance from Southern Methodist University and the University of Miami.
Laura Stuart

Private Voice Teacher

3612 Woodley Road NW Washington, DC 20016 202.537.6300