New and Familiar Faces to Join the Choir

This past February, Dr. Don McManus joined Fifth Avenue Presbyterian as its Bicentennial Director of Music Ministries. He will direct the newly
organized Bicentennial Choir, which will consist primarily of volunteer members supplemented by a corps of professional singers.

The choir promises to present an eclectic array of service music, anthems, and occasional music for the regular and special services of the church. Participation is open through regular attendance at Wednesday evening rehearsals.

He notes, “Besides the obvious excitement of the time for celebrating the bicentennial there is a wondrous challenge to help raise up a new model of personal ministry among God’s people for the increase of the kingdom. Even as we appropriately honor and revere what has been, there stretches out ahead a bold, new pathway for eager hearts and willing hands at FAPC.”

He holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Baylor University where he was among the first organ students of Dr. Joyce Jones and a Ph.D. in Music Theory conferred by The University of Texas at Austin. Through the auspices of the American Guild of Organists he earned the Associate and Fellow professional certifications. Don was acknowledged by the Guild with a cash award for having the highest categorical score nationally on the FAGO exams. In 1996, he was elected and installed to service on AGO’s National Council by the Guild members of Region VII whom he represented as Regional Councillor.

Don comes to FAPC from Texas, where he served St. Alban’s Episcopal Church (Austin) as Organist and Director of Music and, immediately prior, from a 25-year ministry as Organist/Choirmaster for St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church (Lufkin).

During that period he was a tenured member of the Fine Arts faculty of Angelina College where, in an unprecedented act, his colleagues twice elected him outstanding teacher to attend the TCCTA Great Teaching Round-Up. After seventeen years at A.C. Don joined the faculty of Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches). The legacy from his years in higher education is a new generation of public school and
private music teachers and numerous musicians who continue to serve the church as organists and music directors.

To welcome Dr. McManus or for information on joining the Bicentennial Choir, feel free to e-mail him (dmcmanus@fapc.org).

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