Minister Of Music ~ Edwin R. Taylor
Joined First Congregational Church:
- September 2001
Experience:
- Over twenty years serving the music ministries of churches, teaching music in schools and colleges, and conducting choral/orchestra performances in New Jersey, Michigan, and most recently, Florida.
Education:
- Earned both his Bachelor's degree in Church Music and his Masters degree in Organ Performance from Westminster Choir College, in Princeton, New Jersey, where he studied with, among others, Joseph Flummerfelt, John and Helen Kemp, George Markey, Warren Martin, Donald McDonald, Robert Simpson, and David Stanley York.
- Did post-graduate work at the University of California Los Angeles, and continues to attend/participate in numerous annual workshops, seminars, and conventions.
Honors and Distinctions:
- Performed, as a member of the 200-voice Westminster Symphonic Choir, with, among others, the New York Philharmonic, the National Symphony, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Montreal Symphony, and the York (PA) Symphony; on the stages of Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Heinz Hall, and the Kennedy Center; under the batons of Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, Paul Calloway, Antal Dorati, Lukas Foss, Rafael Kubelik, Loren Maazel, Eugene Ormandy, William Steinberg, Leopold Stowkowski, and others; and was part of two recording sessions.
- As the result of his position as School Photographer while a student at Westminster Choir College, now has a priceless collection of photographs he developed and printed of each of the above-listed conductors, as well as a host of internationally-known performers, composers, arrangers, publishers, and editors.
- Served church music ministries in New Jersey, Michigan, and Florida, before being appointed Minister of Music/Music Director at First Congregational, Ridgefield, in 2001.
- Conducted church/community choirs and regional orchestras in some of the major choral/orchestral works of Bach, Bernstein, Bish, Brahms, Duruflé, Fauré, Händel, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Respighi, Rutter, Sousa, Vaughan Williams, Vivaldi, and others.
- Has taught Music Appreciation and Voice Class/Lessons at both the college and church/congregational level.
- As an active and published composer/arranger, has written numerous hymntunes (one appearing in THE PRESBYTERIAN HYMNAL 1990); hymn descants; hymn re-harmonizations; hymn concertatos; works for choirs, brass, handbells, organ, winds, strings, and percussion; a dozen piano rags; and a set of songs without words for piano entitled Songs Of Home. His newest hymntune, which premiered on September 4, 2005, along with the other hymntunes and afore-listed works, are available by e-mailing: music@firstcongregational.com.
Personal Memberships And Activities:
- American Guild of Organists
- American Choral Directors Association
- Choristers Guild
- Westminster Choir College Alumni Association
- Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association
Personal Background:
- A native of Fenton, Michigan.
- Hails from a family of active musicians: his father, a retired church organist; his sister, a music teacher (band director) and professional trombonist; and his mother, a former member of the adult choir at his home church.
- Married eleven years to Faith A. Ferry, a music teacher, conductor, professional singer, and Pennsylvania native.
- They have three children (Dr. Jenelle Ferry, 28, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital in New Orleans, Jordan Ferry, 26, a manager with Target Stores in Fort Myers, Florida, and Colton Ferry, 24, who works for Allstate Insurance Company in Fort Myers, Florida), one grandson in New Orleans, and a burgeoning blessing of cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Hobbies and Special Interests:
- Flying (FAA-licensed pilot), singing (Yale Camerata), traveling, family, writing, cooking, inventing games, and photography.