"Sing to the Lord a new song, for the Lord has done marvelous things. . . . Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands; lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing. Sing to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the voice of song. With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout with joy before the Sovereign, the Lord." Psalm 98:1, 4-6
David VanderMeer
Minister of Music and Fine Arts
Email: dvandermeer@firstpresbyterian.org, Extension: 347
Dave completed his undergraduate studies at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey and received a Masters of Arts in Practical Theology (Worship Concentration) in 2017 from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia.
Dave is a Certified Church Musician through, and past President of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM), an organization that provides resources, conferences, publications and a network of members engaged in worship, music, and the arts worldwide. He has served as the Conference Director for PAM Worship and Music Conferences at Mo-Ranch in Hunt, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Montreat, North Carolina. He is a member of the Hymn Society of America and Canada, Choristers Guild, National Music Educators Association, American Choral Directors Association, American Guild of Organists, Handbell Musicians of America, Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA), and the Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM).
Dave is married to Brent Ivey. Dave's daughter Caryn and son-in-law Caleb live in Texas. Dave and Brent enjoy cooking, travel, arts, nature, reading, and entertaining.
Ministry of Music and Fine Arts
Choirs
Children's Choir (grades K-5)
The Children’s Choir is open to any child in kindergarten through fifth grade. They rehearse on Sunday mornings from 10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. in Lemon Chapel, to sing, move, create, play instruments and act. The Children's Choir explores one hymn per month to help young singers have a greater knowledge and understanding of our rich hymnody. We’d love to have you join us! Contact Shayla Powell at spowell@firstpresbyterian.org for more information.
Information for singers and home rehearsal resources may be found here.
Youth + Creative Arts (grades 6-12)
Youth continue to develop their singing voices and other musical skills such as handbells, drumming, dramatic readings, and visual arts as they prepare for musical leadership in worship. Additional opportunities for study and for worship leadership are also available by contacting Dave VanderMeer our Minister of Music and Fine Arts.
Chancel Choir (High School - Adult)
Chancel Choir is open to singers from high-school age through adult and invites new singers to join them! Rehearsals are Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. in Monteith Hall.
Instrumental Ensembles
Sanctus Ringers Handbell Choir
Our Sanctus Ringers provide worship leadership several times throughout the academic year. Safe, in-person rehearsals: Mondays, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Click here to view the 2022-2023 Ringing Schedule.
Day Time Handbell Choir
Beginners are welcome to join our adult handbell choir. Safe, in-person rehearsals (during the academic year): Thursdays, 2:00 to 2:45 p.m.
Orchestra (high school and adult)
All Youth and Adults are welcome - please come and join the Church Orchestra!
The church orchestra is comprised of strings, winds and percussion, and play for morning worship several times during the academic year.
Liturgical/Visual Arts Team
The Liturgical/Visual Arts Team meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.
Opportunities to Support Our Music Ministries
Sacred Music Fund
Gifts to the Sacred Music Fund support our recruiting additional instrumentalists, scheduling guest conductors, and purchasing music for our choirs not covered by the general budget.
The Organs at First Presbyterian Church
Sanctuary Organ
The organ in our sanctuary, installed in 2001, was built by Schoenstein & Co. of San Francisco. It consists of 2,474 pipes, placed in 42 ranks (33 voices).
The instrument is played from a movable console of three keyboards and a pedal board. The tonal resources of the instrument combine elements of the major schools of organ building throughout history. In this way the organ inspires a musical environment for worship as well as providing a means for the performance of the music of great composers.
The pipes are made of wood, tin, lead, and zinc. Woods used in construction of the organ include maple, oak, poplar, and mahagony. The console is made of oak and polished walnut and uses polisched ebony drawknobs on brass shanks. The keys are of bone and ebony. It is the hope of the church that this instrument will serve not only the needs of our immediate congregation but also the musical needs of a wider musical community. The words of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart are echoed again: "In my eyes and ears the organ will ever be the King of Instruments."
Monteith Hall Organ
A Moeller pipe organ, generously donated by Ronald Sutton, was installed in Monteith Hall at First Presbyterian in the fall of 2005. The organ has two manuals and three ranks of pipes. Together with the beautiful grand piano in that space, it provides us with great musical flexibility for weddings, funerals, and our more intimate 8:00 a.m. Sunday service. The pipes are located in the back of the hall; the console is in the front, opposite the piano. The organ was used as a practice instrument by Ronald's wife, Ruth. She was the organist at Knox Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor, and had played for us at First Pres on several occasions. Ron, a former member of the Handbell Choir, currently sings in the Chancel Choir, and is a past director of the Church Orchestra. We are most grateful to the Sutton family for this wonderful gift, which adds great beauty to our worship and will always be used to the glory of God.