Depending on the time of day or season of the year, you may find Michael Henry, our Director of Music in a wide range of settings. He may be rehearsing the Chancel Choir in count-singing their way through a tricky passage of a baroque choral work, or having a spirited time with the Primetime Singers on an arrangement of a good old gospel hymn. He might be rehearsing for a drama or musical in the Fellowship Hall. Perhaps he is meeting with a special events team to discuss music plans for a church family picnic, special tribute or a World Mission Conference. He could also be leading the congregation in a new melody from South Africa or Zimbabwe, or accompanying a budding young violinist as she prepares for next Sunday's prelude. He may be working on a colorful ladybug kite to fly overhead in a worship service when the children sing about butterflies and moths, or preparing the Kingdom Choir for a holiday trip to an exciting destination over the MLK weekend in January (try Nashville, Charleston, Washington, Orlando, Memphis and Calloway Gardens). You could find him hunting for a humorous song for a group to perform in a Montreat talent show. He could also be organizing an ecumenical concert with other church musicians in the area, or visiting the hospital room of a choir member.  Whatever or wherever it is, you will see that his work is in keeping with his desire that First Presbyterian Church is a place Where Music Meets Ministry.

A native of Kentucky, Michael has music degrees from Murray State and Baylor University. His choral mentors were Robert Baar and Robert Shaw. He studied orchestral conducting under Daniel Sternberg. During the 1990s he was a member and occasional soloist with the symphonic and select choruses directed by Robert Shaw in Atlanta in New York. These included the week-long Carnegie Hall workshops Shaw designed for America's choral leaders. One particular highlight of Michael's singing career was the weekend he stepped in at last minute to serve as tenor soloist for the Mozart Requiem with the Atlanta Symphony. He will also be happy to tell you some stories about singing with John Jacob Niles,and representing his home state with My Old Kentucky Home from the stage of the Kennedy Center during the bicentennial.

Michael has been with First Presbyterian Church, Gainesville since 1992. His family includes three musical ladies - wife Susan Bolen, and daughters Phalan and Lillian. Among his favorite places in the world are the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Churchill Downs on Derby Day, and any time he can spend on Lake Lanier in Hall County, Georgia.
 

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