John Yarrington
An active contributor to professional
journals, his writings on choral
techniques, organization and
philosophy of church music are well
known.  His published choral
compositions are with Augsburg-
Fortress, Choristers Guild,
Abingdon Press, MorningStar and G.
I.A.  Published books include
Building the Youth Choir,
Somebody’s Got My Robe,
Somebody’s Got My Hymnal and
Choir Crackups.
Yarrington is active in the American
Choral Directors Association and
served as Southwest Division
President.  He has been featured
conductor for numerous honor
choruses and All-State events. His
workshop schedule takes him
throughout the United States and
Canada.
At HBU, his choirs have
distinguished themselves for their
artistry and range of literature.  In a
recent residency, composer, Morten
Lauridsen said of the choral work:  
“this was among the finest, both on
a college and professional level.  
Their sense of pitch, vocal color,
and interpretation of the music is
very high.”

 Dr. Yarrington and his wife, Diane,
have six children and four
grandchildren.
Dr. John Yarrington is Director of the
School of Music and Chair of Choral
Studies at the Houston Baptist
University.  Additionally, he is
Director of the Chancel Choir at the
First Presbyterian Church of
Houston.  Former churches include
McFarlin United Methodist, Norman,
Oklahoma, First United Methodist,
Dallas, Texas, and the Pulaski
Heights United Methodist, Little
Rock, Arkansas.  In Arkansas, he
founded the Arkansas Symphony
Orchestra Chorus which he directed
for five seasons, and was Interim
Conductor of the Arkansas
Symphony Orchestra for one
season.  He was also Artistic
Director of the Arkansas Chamber
Singers.
  After graduating from the University
of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of
Music Education degree, Yarrington
completed the Master of Sacred
Music degree at the Union
Theological Seminary in New York
City, studying with Sergius Kagen,
Madeleine Marshall, Abraham
Kaplan and William Gephart.  
Continuing graduate studies at the
University of Oklahoma under Dr.
B.R. Henson and Dr. Dennis Shrock
led to completion of the Doctor of
Musical Arts Degree.
Dr. Yarrington will be using material from his forthcoming book,
Have We Had This Conversation?, at this event.