Anne Wilson, Music
The year 2009 has been rich with musical offerings, and as the year came to a close, i enjoyed looking back at the year’s highlights:
January
*Jed Koops’ moving composition The Waters of Baptism with his wife Lisa as soloist
*the Photography Art and Music Night with soprano Beth Zych
February
*FHC trip to Israel: we sang Israeli and Palestinian music as a send-off
*Gweneth Walker’s stirring new anthem O Sinner Man (which Scott Lafferty parodied at the May Cabaret, changing the words to O Cinnabun!)
March
*the Swing to the Lord a New Song concert with a jazz combo
*Voices in Bronze’s lovely rendition of Lamento
April
contemplative Lenten worship services with soup and bread suppers
the British Art and Music Night with soprano Amanda Powell singing Purcell and Vaughan Williams
May
*the always happy time we have at the May Cabaret
*feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, with guest jazz violinist Reed Simon
June
*informal worship in Fellowship Hall
*the beginning of a terrific series of lay preachers
July
*Caleb Wright’s singing of Deep River
*Scott Duncan’s sonorous bagpipes on July 5th
August
*child soloists Hannah Smith and Will Burleigh, and the Smith Family Singers
*our first time to sing For Everyone Born
September
*14-yr. old Michael Ferri playing Bach and Sarasate in worship
*All God’s Critters Got a Place in the Choir sung by the Descant Choir
October
*our first AWE event: Worship in the Panyard, with the Akron Steel Drum Band
*the Cherub Choir singing Rejoice in the Lord Always
*the Global Art and Music Night with Amanda Powell’s songs from around the world
November
*the Descant Choir’s singing of The Scottish Penny Song and their huge collection of pennies which were donated to the FHC Food Cupboard
*the second AWE event: Dance Afrika Dance!
December
*the Sine Nomine Choir’s Advent and Christmas songs, especially at Lessons and Carols
*Jeremy Williams’ singing of Mary Did You Know on Christmas Eve
Another year has passed, and I am particularly grateful for the dedication of our choral, instrumental and bell-ringing musicians. Thanks to generous gifts to the Friends of Music Fund, new music has been purchased and instrumentalists hired to enhance the worship services, concerts and Alternative Worship Experiences (AWE). As we embrace the joys and challenges of the year 2010, I give sincere thanks to the many people of this church who so graciously support the music program in myriad ways. I am, indeed, richly blessed to serve as your church musician.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Anne Wilson, Organist/Director of Music