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December 5, 2025
Dear First Congregational Church,
I write today to share news about an upcoming transition within our church staff.
Beginning January 5, Anne Martinez will be stepping away from her role as our Children’s and Youth Choir Director in order to devote more of her weekends to her family. She will continue to lead our Joyful Littles Music classes on Wednesdays and will remain available to support our children’s and youth music programs on an occasional basis. We are deeply grateful for Anne’s care for our young singers, for the way she has nurtured their gifts, strengthened their community, and helped them offer their music so joyfully to us all.
In early June, we are delighted to welcome back a familiar face. Julieta Garcia Reyes, a former section leader in our Chancel Choir, and a graduate of CU College of Music and the University of Texas at San Antonio, with degrees in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy, will be returning to serve as our new Director of Children’s and Youth Choir. Julieta and her husband, Chris, are moving back to the area after a few years in San Antonio, and her return feels very much like a homecoming. She will arrive in time to help lead Arts Camp, and we are thrilled that she will be able to step into this role as soon as she returns.
In the meantime, we are fortunate that a trusted colleague of Julieta’s, Zachariah Smith, a master’s student in Choral Conducting at CU’s College of Music, has graciously agreed to serve in the interim. He will join Anne through January 4, when the children and youth will be singing in worship, to help ensure a smooth and thoughtful handoff.
We are blessed with a rich abundance of musicians in our community, all committed to supporting and strengthening our ministry with children and youth.
I know you join me in thanking Anne, in welcoming Zachariah, and in joyfully anticipating Julieta’s return.
With gratitude,
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