Noel-Paul Laur joined the Amarillo Youth Choirs staff in 2001 as the rehearsal and concert accompanist. He currently serves as the Organist and Associate Music Director for Polk Street United Methodist Church in Amarillo, the accompanist for the Amarillo Master Chorale and the Amarillo College Concert Choir, and the Organist for St. Andrew’s Episcopal School’s weekday Chapel services. Dr. Laur and his family have a long and involved history with AYC. His youngest son, Carter, was a member of the Amarillo Boy Choir for five years. His oldest daughter, Carling, was a member of the Amarillo Girl Choir for three years. His youngest daughter, Caitlin, was a member of the Amarillo Girl Choir for five years.

Dr. Laur was born in Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada. He has the following degrees to his credit: A. Mus. Perf. (Organ Performance) from the University of Western Ontario, London, ONT; B. Mus. (Organ Performance) from Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, Wheaton, IL; M. Mus. (Church Music: Organ, Conducting) from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ. Most recently, he completed the degree D.W.S. (Worship Studies) from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, Orange Park, FL in June, 2008.

Also to his credit are the following certificates from the American Guild of Organists, New York, NY: Service Playing, Colleague, Associate, Choir Master, Fellowship. His teachers have included: piano – Joyce Laur and William Phemister; organ – Laura Bragg, John Inch, Edmund Wright, Stephen Cushman, Donald McDonald, Mark Brombaugh, Frank McConnell, Charles Parsons and Peter Brown; conducting – Rex Hicks, John Kemp, Frauke Haasemann and Joseph Flummerfelt.

Dr. Laur is married to Debra who serves as the Director of Early Childhood Ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Amarillo, TX. His oldest son, Chrysler (U.S. Army Sergeant) is attending Amarillo College. Carter (U.S. Navy Corpsman) is stationed at Twenty-nine Palms, CA and Afghanistan. Carling is a sophomore at Amarillo College, enrolled in physical therapy. Caitlin, a senior at Randall H.S., is a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol and will join the U.S. Marines in June, 2010.  Dr. Laur and his family enjoy their home in Lake Tanglewood.