Ken Cowan, Palmer’s Artist-in-Residence and Organist, is Associate Professor and head of the organ program at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. He has also served on the organ faculty of Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, New Jersey.
Ken has recorded on the Pro Organo, JAV, and Etheral recording labels, and many of his recordings and live performances have been featured on NPR. He received a Master of Music degree and Artist Diploma from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music in New Haven, Connecticut, and his Bachelor of Music degree from the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a church musician, he has held posts as Artist-in-Residence and Organist at Saint Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in New York City and as Assistant Organist at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church in Philadelphia.
Pam brings more than 25 years of experience in finance and operations, most recently as a financial analyst at Wholesale Electric Supply Co. of Houston, where she has overseen financial reporting, developed procedures and controls for a new ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), and worked closely with leaders across the business to improve reporting and dataflows. Previously, during a 19-year career with Gulf Energy Information, she advanced to Vice President of Finance and Operations. Her responsibilities there included oversight of accounting, budgeting, banking, human resources systems, information technology strategy, software implementations, vendor relationships, and facilities matters. Pam holds an MBA degree and is a qualified CMA (Chartered Management Accountant).
Palmer has been an important part of Pam’s family life since she joined the congregation in 2006. She and her husband Jack were married at Palmer in 2007, and their sons, Abraham and Charlie, were baptized here. Pam has served two terms on the Vestry, from 2013 to 2017 and from 2021 to 2024, including service during the search process for a new Rector. She was a Safeguarding coordinator for our congregation from 2014 to 2024 and became Palmer’s Treasurer in March 2024. She has also served on the former hospitality committee, where her contributions have included cutting more than a few onions for Palmer’s cookouts!