Joan Best Seamon

Joan Best Seamon has been the Director of Music for the Catholic Community of St. Matthias in Somerset, New Jersey since 1978. Music Ministry at St Matthias includes 9 choirs - Adult Choir; Folk Group; Children's Choir (3rd and 4th grade, 5th-8th grade); Revelation,(an intergenerational contemporary Praise Choir); 150 Praise Band; Umoja Imani Songsters(gospel choir); the Ensemble( a capella double quartet); the FAASM Choir(Filipino American Association of St. Matthias); Handbell Choir, as well as 30 volunteer cantors. As disciples rooted in God’s Word and sacraments, St. Matthias Music Ministry encourages congregational singing and active assembly participation. Music Ministers explore repertoire that reflects our diversity while passing on the treasures of our Catholic musical heritage.

Joan is a graduate of Douglass College with a B.A. in Music Education. She earned a Masters Degree in Music History and Theory from Rutgers University. She is an active member of the Metuchen Chapter of the National Pastoral Musicians Association, serving on its board for over 6 years.

Joan and her husband Terry live in New Brunswick with their sons Kevin, a recent Rutgers graduate with and David, a junior at Rutgers studying communications.

Joan can be reached at (732) 418-1044 or by email at jseamon@smpo.us