Ten years ago I decided that when I retire from my profession in health care that I have a calling to be a music minister at a Catholic church.  I started studying pipe organ in 2009 as a means to this end, and fell in love with the instrument. 

In June 2013 I announced that I would retire in December from my career as a Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems (EMHS) to pursue my music calling.  

To prepare for music ministry, I applied to the University of Maine (Orono, Maine) music program.  An undergraduate degree in music will give me the skills and some of the experience required for this calling.  I passed my audition on August 1, 2013 and was admitted into the music Bachelor of Arts program.  I will study pipe organ, choral conducting, piano, and other music courses to give me a broad and solid background in music theory, literature, and history.

I continue to take private organ lessons and I am very active in the music program at St. John’s Catholic Church singing in the Chamber Choir and the Adult Choir.  I am also assisting Dr. Kevin Birch, the St. John's Music Director, with the Youth Choir and with organizing the organ and choral music in the music office.  

The Christmas concert that was scheduled for this afternoon for the St. John’s Youth and Adult choirs was cancelled because of an ice storm.  Come and hear the choirs on Christmas Eve:
7 pm Mass - Youth Choir (extended prelude beginning at 6:30 pm)
Midnight Mass - Adult Choir (extended prelude beginning at 11:15 pm)

I am starting this blog to chronicle my adventures as a music student!