I am a Charleston native, and I come to you with almost 55 years of experience. My husband and I
moved to New Jersey after our wedding, as his job required us to live there. My career began when, on a Friday night, my Anglican parish priest asked me to guess what I was going to do on Sunday. He told me that I would play the organ and conduct the choir. My answer was a resounding no! He explained that the church Director of Music had suffered a complete mental breakdown and would not be back for at least 6 months. I was greatly needed. He promised to get me a good organ teacher and teach me about the liturgy of the church.
I was a double piano and voice major at Winthrop. I had experience in conducting, but not in playing the organ. The next morning, I left my 9-month-old daughter with her dad and went to the church to try to conquer that frightening instrument. Eight hours later, I headed home, frightened more than I can explain. Halfway through the Sunday service, I fell in love with leading a congregation in worship. Most of my career has been serving in Anglican churches, with brief stints in a Lutheran and Catholic Church. In South Carolina, I have served as Director of Music at St. James Episcopal, St Helena’s in Beaufort, and then at St. Philip’s in downtown Charleston. The highlight of my career was 2 summers ago when my 40 voice St. Philip’s Choir served as Resident Choir at St. Paul’s Cathedral for a week. We sang Evensong each night, plus a Haydn mass on Sunday morning, then Evensong that night. When I retired almost 2 years ago, I had no intention of returning to work. I enjoyed substituting but wanted my life free from steady obligation. That ended in a Bible study led by Susan Daniel. The lesson that day was, “Are you doing what you want to do, or what God wants you to do.” I realized that God had been calling me for many months, but I had ignored His call.
Besides Winthrop, I had further studies at Montclair State University and studied privately with teachers from Juilliard and Mannes School of Music. Locally, I studied with Gertrude Cappelmann and Vernon Weston.
My dear husband died almost 14 years ago, and I miss him terribly. I have 2 children and their spouses, 4 grandchildren, and 2 precious great grandchildren. Unfortunately, they live either in Charlotte or in Northern Kentucky. When I am away later in July and early August, I will be with family, on a trip that was planned and paid for many months ago.
I have found great love at CPC! The congregation has embraced me in a way I have never experienced. I look forward to our worship and pray that people will be drawn to CPC by excellent music, uplifting sermons, and your love. Please wear your name tags so I get to know you even better. What do we need? A few good men in the choir would be a real plus. Ladies are also most welcome. The ability to read music is helpful, but not necessary. Singing is my love, and teaching is a close second, come learn in the choir as you worship our Lord. See you on Sundays at 8:30, plus an extra rehearsal or two several times a year. We begin right on time and end in time to get to Sunday School.
– Pat Gould, Director of Music at CPC