Music Committee 2023
Edwards Church is fully opened with indoor and outdoor services. It’s a joy to summarize the musical activities of the past year! We hope that all the important information and musical highlights are duly noted, and we give thanks to all who contributed to a fabulous year of music at Edwards!
The Music Committee is very grateful for the hard work, creativity, musical talent and direction of our choir director, Rick Seaholm. Now after his 14th year at Edwards, Rick has decided it’s time to move on from Edwards Church. To honor Rick for all the dedicated time and service to Edwards Church, we have made him our Commissioned Minister of Music Emeritus. We are very proud of Rick and he will be deeply missed by our choir, ministry and congregation. Many thanks to you Rick.
We are grateful to our keyboard team, with Susan Minor handling piano duties and organist Cheryl Elkins playing organ on other Sundays. These two musicians are very talented and a great fit for Edwards. Susan and Cheryl have stepped up to take over choir directing duties for rehearsals and services. Thanks to Susan and Cheryl for their hard work and we are blessed to have this team enriching our worship.
Our blessings also include the contributions from the pick-up choir over the year at the services. The choir has started to have regular rehearsals and performances like pre-covid times. We have had many rehearsals and performances which have been a lot of fun. We are grateful for the contributions of choir members Cindy Booth, Ric Carl, Debbie Clark, Jane Ezbicki, Len Ezbicki, Rick Robinson, Kelly Lopez, Ronda Yeomans, Susan Cleveland, Scott Cleveland, Helen Draper, Sarah Whiteman, and Karen Nell Smith.
The Church had a big fundraiser so we can offer the service via Livestream now. Thanks as well to Jane Ezbicki, Len Ezbicki, Rick Robinson, Ronda Yeomans, Sue Cleveland, Willie Sordillo, Debbie Clark, Rick Seaholm and Nicola Seaholm for sharing their musical talents to enrich our worship. Our house band, “On the Fence,” played for the Blessing of the Animals service in September, and the Christmas service in December. Thanks go to members Ric Carl (mouth harp), Len Ezbicki (mandolin), Jane Ezbicki (violin), George Marcincavage (guitar), Kelly Lopez (bass), Liz Garrigan-Byerly (vocals) and Dan Garrigan-Byerly (banjo).
The Music Committee is responsible for maintaining the organ, pianos, and sound system. There is not much to report in 2023. The Stephens Organ had some maintenance and tuning done in December by Andover Organ Co. The Yamaha piano, Baldwin piano and the Steinway piano are all tuned up by The Piano Doctor, Stephen Chrzan. The Steinway is being fixed up by the Piano Doctor. It’s a joy to summarize the musical activities of the past year!