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Music Director, Annual Report for year 2004

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MUSIC DIRECTOR/ORGANIST FOR 2004

This is my fourth Annual Report as your Director of Music and Organist. In comparison with past years, this report will be more about you the congregation and your involvement with music in our parish. I want to thank all of you for your participation in singing, listening, conversations about and prayers for our music.

I agree with those who say that the 'health' of a congregation can be determined by listening to its singing. Over and over I hear beauty, vigor and faith expressed in your singing. I thank you for this. Also I thank all of you who made the decisions that enable music here: the purchase and maintenance of the organ and the year to year decisions that maintain the fine acoustics in the church. It is a pleasure to make music with you each Sunday.

I cannot thank our choir members enough (Janice High, Betty Malbon, Nancy Morrissey, Chris Cerrato and Heather Paltinavich). Their accomplishments and dedication are evident in their singing. If everyone knew what a good time we have together preparing the music, surely we would have more singers! We welcome new members and on occasion we have been delighted to have some guest singers.

In 2004 we had solo organ recitals presented by Roger Vine of Boston and Daniel McKinley of Hamilton. Flutist Martha Woodward and I played a joint recital. Our Choir sang Evensong in November. Instrumentalists played with us on Christmas Eve and Easter. Richard Johnson was our substitute organist on several Sundays and we all thank him. I attended a five-day church music conference, Church Music Explosion, in Florida.

As a first in my annual report, I am listing all the hymns we have sung this year. You will find this list of over 200 hymns on the following pages. This is a great achievement and it has been made possible by your enthusiastic participation and willingness to sing some 'new' hymns. The great variety is because the hymns are chosen primarily on the basis of the Bible readings for the day. You as congregation, choir and clergy have been remarkable as we have done this together. As you peruse the following list, I hope that you remember the 'blessings' of each hymn -- a double blessing, one of text and one of music. Please share your thoughts about the list with me. Blessings be with you.

Respectfully submitted,
Joyce Painter Rice, Music Director and Organist

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