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Category: Staff

Bio

My love for music began 33 years ago, at age five; when I began taking private piano lessons in Central Florida (yes, I am a native Floridian!). This passion for music later led me into involvement with the middle and high school band programs in Seminole County, where I picked up a knack for the trombone. During my early years as a musician, I was honored to have the privilege of playing in both All-County and All-State competitions, and enjoyed a couple of seasons with the Florida Youth Symphony Orchestra.

After graduating from Lake Mary High School, I was offered scholarships to both the University of Miami and Florida State University for music and academics. Instead of pursuing either out of town opportunity, I chose to stay local to Central Florida and was fortunate to study piano performance at Stetson University with Dr. Michael Rickmann and later graduated from the University of Central Florida, under the study of Dr. Gary Wolf, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. At that time, I transitioned right into a full time position as music teacher/ band director at Sweetwater Episcopal Academy in Longwood, Florida.

In 1998, God began calling me into ministry, and I accepted a part time position as Music Director at Trinity UMC in Orlando, Florida. After leaving Sweetwater Episcopal Academy in 2004, I accepted full time status at Trinity UMC, serving as both Music Director and Director of Compassionate Ministries. The scope of my ministry began to change as I found myself organizing ministry opportunities and outreach to under-privileged, neighboring communities and to the homeless residing in the downtown area. In 2006, I began serving as Worship Leader for the Celebrate Recovery Ministry at Centerpointe Community Church of the Nazarene as well as Interim-Director for Compassion Corner, a ministry to the homeless at First Presbyterian Church in Orlando. In the fall of 2008, I began serving as Director of Contemporary Worship at Grace United Methodist Church in Lake Mary, Florida. I currently remain active as a private music teacher and accompanist, working with middle school and high school band and choral programs in Central Florida.

God has truly blessed me with an amazing family. I met my beautiful wife, Janel, in 2005 while serving at Trinity UMC. Her love of God, and passion for worship, has created in us a common bond that eventually led us into marriage. I have also been given a gift to treasure, in my son Cameron, who is truly a remarkable boy. He has a desire to share the love of Christ with everyone he encounters. We are all very excited to join the family here at Community Presbyterian Church.

I am honored at the opportunity to share God’s work in my life with everyone here at Community Presbyterian Church. It is my passion to lead God’s people into His presence using the gift of song, preparing God’s people for life altering encounters with Him, and to live a life that sings the melody of God’s awesome power, His redeeming grace and perfect love. My greatest desire is to serve God and His people, utilizing the talents He has given me to glorify Him, as part of a growing, reaching, relevant and vital ministry team, like the one here at CommPres!!!