Interim Director of Music Hired at FPC

By Claudia Carroll

The Music Director Search Committee happily announces that we have hired Lee Kohlenberg as Interim Director of Music and Organist-Choirmaster. Lee and his wife Elsie will be moving to Tyler in early August from Charleston, SC. Lee is retired from full-time service to the church, after serving for 28 years in Episcopalian parishes in Chicago and South Carolina. Since his retirement, he has served as interim organist-choirmaster in several churches in both South and North Carolina. Despite the fact that he has spent much of his adult life in the Carolinas, he actually hails from New Braunfels, TX, and has his Bachelor’s of Music in Organ Performance from the University of Texas at Austin.

Lee will officially begin his position September 1st, but will play organ as a “substitute” the first two Sundays in August, then must return to South Carolina to fulfill other commitments.

To refresh your memory, the committee consists of Joe Bill Belue, Claudia Carroll, Buck Files, Bill Girard, Judith Guthrie, Casey Johnson, and Linda Pirtle. After an extensive search for our interim, these folks can now take a period of rest for a few months (breathing a sigh of relief), before we begin our search for a permanent Organist-Choirmaster. Please don’t let up on your prayers for us.