First UCC invites public to enjoy annual summer music series

  • June 4, 2010
  • 531
                        
For the seventh consecutive year, First United Church of Christ, at 201 Fair Avenue NW, New Philadelphia, is pleased to invite the public to enjoy its guest musician series during the chancel choir’s summer hiatus. Part of First UCC’s mission is to serve the entire community through its facilities, which are handicapped accessible through the entrance from the Fair Avenue parking lot. First UCC’s summer worship services begin at 9 a.m., preceded by 15 minutes of gathering music. Casual dress is appropriate. Members of the Dover Middle School sixth-grade choir, directed by Mrs. Pat Clinker, will begin the series on June 6. They will be accompanied by church musician Rick Michel, who also serves as their accompanist during the school year. The students will present several selections demonstrating their diverse range of performance. The Musical Cumminghams, a local group popular for their southern gospel music featuring piano, bass, steel guitar, accordion and vocals, will make a return appearance on June 13, followed on June 20 by flutist Amber Pottmeyer, a graduate music school student at University of West Virginia and a member of the church. New to the series is Dover native Bill Singhaus, a contemporary Christian musician who will sing and play acoustic guitar on June 27. Singhaus, vice president of Marsh Industries, has performed extensively in the Akron/Canton, Portage Lakes and Lake Erie areas, and at his home church, First Presbyterian in New Philadelphia. Marita Tornabene of New Philadelphia, a senior at Ashland University, will sing on July 4. She is a vocal music education major and a member of the University’s Choir. Country singer/songwriter Kathy Stevens, who has performed all over the U.S. and parts of Canada, will perform on July 11. She has recorded two albums, “From My Heart to Yours” and “Free Indeed” and currently is at work on a third. Southern gospel quartet Jerome James and The Anointed from the New Philadelphia First Church of God will make a return appearance on July 18, when they will also bring the message. Members are pastor Rev. Matt Roe, Ed and Cheryl Eick, and James. The popular Shiloh Mountain Trio will perform on July 25. Siblings Ben Massey, Susi Cox and Naomi Hicks have sung together for as long as they can remember. The Trio is named in honor of Mt. Shiloh Baptist Church in Cadiz, where their father had served as pastor for many years. Growing up in a Southern Baptist pastor’s home, they had the opportunity to hone their skill in nursing homes and at many church and social events. By the time they were young teens, these three of 12 brothers and sisters were traveling nearly every weekend participating in events including Jamboree USA and as opening act for Dan Seals at the Capital Music Hall in Wheeling, WVa. Since then, they have continued to share their ministry of music in Ohio and surrounding states and as far away as Haiti. In 2007, the group released their first CD, “This Must Be Glory” and are now working on another. Ben records and produces the Trio’s music in his studio, sings and plays all the instruments that are on the group’s recordings. Susi sings and handles the group’s appearance schedule and also writes songs. Naomi sings and plays guitar. Their spouses travel with the Trio and handle marketing their CDs, running sound, and set-up and tear-down. The 25-member women’s barbershop chorus The Valley Voices will sing on Aug. 1. The group, directed by Mary Kay Webb, sings traditional, spiritual and gospel numbers acapella in barbershop style four-part harmony. They rehearse on Monday nights, at 7 p.m., in the Grace Lutheran Church in Dover, and always welcome new members. The Trumpet in the Land Singers, an ensemble from Ohio’s first outdoor historical drama, will perform on Aug. 8. Music Director Don Lane leads the group, which sings a combination of early American Moravian music, traditional hymns and some written specifically for the production. Dover native Bart Herman is accompanist. Vocalist Stephanie Bond will present the ministry of music on August 15. A senior at Dover High School, Bond is a member of the choir and has performed on the DHS stage in numerous productions, including “Crazy for You.” She appeared in Little Theatre’s “Beauty and the Beast” and has sung in the choirs at First Christian Church in New Philadelphia and the First United Methodist Church in Dover. She was a member of the All Ohio State Youth Choir and has sung the National Anthem at local sporting events. She is the daughter of Phil and Candy Bond, of Dover. On Aug. 22, popular local vocalist Scott Miller will present the ministry of music. A tenor, Miller has sung for more than 30 years at area churches, the Skunk Hollow Music Festival, the Atwood Fall Festival and for the Summer Showcase at Tuscora Park. He and his wife, Tricia live in New Philadelphia with their children, Maddie and Derrek. Church cantor Stephanie Levengood of New Philadelphia will sing a variety of traditional and contemporary Christian music on Aug. 29. A soprano, Levengood is a daughter of the congregation and a member of its chancel choir. She and her husband, John, live in New Philadelphia with their daughter and son, Hannah and Phillip. B5, formerly Big, Bad, Bodacious Brass Band, directed by Cheryl Graham will round out the series on Sept. 5.


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