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BETHLEHEM -- Grace Lutheran Church at 16 Ridgecrest Road in Bethlehem, announces the appointment of Wayne Earnest, Ph.D., as organist and director of music, and Laurie Glover Spence as choir director and assistant organist. Both were on staff as of Oct. 1, replacing William Haller, who had resigned earlier in the year to accept a position at St. Thomas at Becket Episcopal Church in Morgantown.
Earnest is a Wheeling area native now semi-retired and living in the Washington, Pa. area. He comes from a background of education and musical leadership including a bachelor's degree from West Liberty University and a Ph.D., in organ from the University of Cincinnati.
His credentials include several positions as full-time director of music in a number of congregations in South Carolina,. Virginia and Florida. In addition, Earnest served for a time on the faculty of Newberry College where he taught general music, theology of worship, liturgics and organ. He also taught briefly at the University of South Carolina and Cincinnati Bible College and Seminary, and has toured and studied extensively in Europe, especially in Ukraine.
Earnest will be responsible for coordinating the overall music program and will serve as principal organist for the congregation.
Spence is a graduate of Bucknell University and holds a degree in early music from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is retired from teaching elementary school music, especially introductory instrumental education, and spent 35 years as the organist and director of music at First English Lutheran Church in Punxsutawney, Pa. She brings an extensive experience in choral and handbell choirs as well as her background in instrumental music, including leading vocal and handbell choirs in Europe and introducing handbells to part of the former East Germany.
Spence will be responsible for directing and coordinating all of the congregation's choirs, and for providing back-up coverage for vacation and other absences or scheduling conflicts (such as funerals) for Earnest.
Both Earnest and Spence are members of the American Guild of Organist, the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians and the Handbell Musicians of America. Earnest is also a member of the Choristers Guild. Both have written and arranged music for a variety of groups.
According to the Search Committee's chair, Brian Crawford, who also serves as vice-president of the congregation, the decision to split the position was to provide the opportunity to expand and diversify the music program. While the church already has a strong adult vocal and handbell ministry, plans are being made to expand into a children's' vocal choir and additional hand chime choirs after the start of the new year.
The expansion of the music program also includes an extensive rebuilding of the congregation's two pipe organs to create one new organ. The four manual Victor organ is expected to be completed in time for Easter, 2017, and will include more than 2,500 pipes in 39 ranks, or sets of pipes. The instrument will not only be used for worship but will also will be available for concerts and for serious organ students and teaching. Upon completion it is expected to be one of the finest organs in the Wheeling area.
Those interested in quality, traditional music in worship are invited to visit Grace Lutheran Church on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Organ students and teachers interested in the new organ may contact Earnest through the church office Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and noon at 304-242-5830.