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This summer we are
very fortunate to welcome
co-interim organists
to Centenary.
These two talented gentlemen will be playing for us throughout the summer, directing the choir until its season ends June 4, and working with soloists throughout the remainder of the summer. We are grateful to both of them--Mark Koontz who is playing and leading the choir this Sunday and Mark Fleisher whose first Sunday with us will be May 21. And we're grateful for Lee Covington who continues as a vital part of our music ministry.
Mark Koontz has spent many years as a church musician, serving Methodist, Evangelical Covenant, Presbyterian and Episcopal denominations as organist and music director. He has a B.A. and M.A. in Theatre, and majored in church music at Azusa Pacific University in California. He is retired from his IT career, and lives with his wife Joyce in Henrico County, having three grown sons and an almost 3-year-old granddaughter.
Mark Fleisher writes: "I am delighted to be spending time with Centenary UMC and joining you in making a joyful noise to the Lord. I began my church music experience 50 years ago when I first played in my home church at age 5 and started piano lessons at 7 (which followed learning to play Amazing Grace by my uncle at age 3). Music was second-nature to my family, as my grandmother was the babysitter and friend of the Statler Brothers as I grew up in Staunton, Virginia. Years later, at King's College, New York, the distinguished Dr. D. Dewitt Wasson invited me to begin organ lessons after hearing me accompany a vocal recital on piano in my freshman year. I sang in choirs as long as I can remember, and most recently including as director. I have served mostly in Northern Virginia - at churches mostly in the Methodist and Episcopal traditions - where I have been the organist and also the Director of Music. I am looking forward to this opportunity at Centenary to celebrate with you our faith through the wondrous diversity of music He has blessed us with. And I am particularly excited to lead the choir and congregation in worship through the hymnody of the Methodist tradition."
Please welcome these musicians to Centenary and thank them for the service among us this summer.
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