I have combined a passionate love for God with an energetic love for music as I have had the privilege of leading choral groups in meaningful worship experiences for fifty years. Beginning in 1974, I led a thirty-five-voice youth choir known as the “Saints and Sinners” Choir at New McKendree Church in Jackson, in worship every Sunday at the 8:00 am service. In 1977, I became the director of the Chancel Choir at Grace Methodist Church, a position I enjoyed for thirty years. In 2009, I assumed the duties of director of music at Centenary Church, where I have been blessed beyond measure to work weekly with our Centenary Worship Team, some of the most amazing talents to be found anywhere, a committed team of Christians who inspire and lead people closer to God with the harmonious power of music.

I have been blessed to combine a career in Christian music alongside a successful career in music education. I began teaching music at Oak Ridge R-VI and then May Greene Elementary in Cape before becoming the choral instructor at Central Junior High School where I enjoyed some of my fondest teaching memories producing twenty-five annual Broadway musical productions until my retirement in 2016. These productions included yearly casts of over 150 students and left musical impressions I will never forget. During my teaching career, I have been honored with several exemplary awards for music education including the Southeast Missouri Arts Council’s 2009 Otto Dingledein Award for outstanding contributions to the arts in Southeast Missouri. After forty-five years, I am still going strong as I continue my love for teaching as the music instructor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

God has richly blessed me with a terrific family including the love of my life, Betsy, and we are the proud parents of two daughters and a terrific son-in-law. Our daughter, Lauren and her husband, David Muscat, will be adding to our family blessings as they are expecting a daughter, Blaire Elizabeth, in July of ‘24 and our daughter, Caitlyn, is continuing her education toward a Master’s degree in speech pathology.

I would like to encourage anyone who has a love for music as well as a love for the Lord, to do one of the biggest favors you could do for yourself and come join the warmth, the fun and the love of the Centenary Worship Team!