This summer
has been full of activity in worship, missions, children, youth and adult
spiritual growth about which many know from direct participation. Our administrative teams have also been
active in staffing Eastminster with the best personnel available. Today Eastminster announces Robert McBride as
Director of Music Ministry/Organist
Mr. McBride is a church musician with 35 years of experience
(he started young!). He has directed and
accompanied in Protestant and Catholic churches as well as in community
organizations such as the Indialantic Chamber Singers. His choirs led worship in many of the great
cathedrals in Italy, including the Duomo Cathedral in Florence, the Milan
Cathedral, the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, St. Mark's in Venice, and St.
Ignatius and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, and have had the opportunity to sing
for both Pope John Paul II and Benedict the XVI at their Wednesday audiences. Robert has also organized tours through
Portugal, Spain and France.
Robert comes here to oversee our entire worship and arts
ministry, engaging in five principle functions.
He will direct choirs for our traditional worship services, accompany on
organ and keyboard, direct Eastminster’s bell choirs, serve as keyboardist for
contemporary worship, and lead our music ministry to youth. A leader of classic music for years, Robert is
also an energetic proponent of contemporary Christian music and committed to
the development of the musical abilities of young musicians. He recently formed the youth musical group,
Earthen Vessels, which has performed several concerts in our area.
In addition to the functions called for in Eastminster’s
portfolio, Robert is also an orchestral bassoonist. He studied bassoon with
William Ludwig and has held principal bassoon positions with the Baton Rouge
Symphony Orchestra, the Louisiana Sinfonietta, the Brevard Symphony Orchestra
and the Atlantic Classical Orchestra.
Robert comes as the unanimous selection of the Director of
Music Ministry/Organist Search Team, which evaluated over 20 highly qualified
applicants and interviewed four candidates.
Members of the Search Team include Mike Drushal (chair), Claire Gibbs
(secretary), Anne Adams (co-secretary), Gloria Baur, David Dunn, Teresa Fleenor
and Bonnie Griffith. Ron Marshall served
as the liaison from the Personnel and Administration Committee, which also
unanimously endorsed Robert McBride’s candidacy.
Robert’s first weekend in worship at Eastminster will be
August 27-28. Come prepared to welcome
Robert and to be blessed by the ministry of Eastminster’s various choirs,
praise teams and instrumentalists. What a joy it is to serve the Lord with such
a talented staff and faithful congregation.
Welcome Robert!
See you in Church,
Tim
