St. George's Music Staff
Announcing a New Director of Music Ministries!
Letter from Leigh Spruill as published in the May issue of The Shield.
I am tremendously excited to share the news that I have called Nancy Reiser to be St. George’s next Director of Music Ministries. I am grateful to God that Nancy has accepted this call and will begin her duties at St. George’s August 1, 2012. Nancy currently serves as Organist-Choirmaster, for All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas.
I must share great personal excitement in this new addition to our parish leadership. Nancy and I served together on the staff at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, Florida, during my tenure there as rector. Indeed, Nancy was Organist-Choirmaster and Liturgist at St. Mark’s from 1994-2008. She was a joy to have on staff, and Nancy was the prime candidate for me when we entered into this leadership transition at St. George’s earlier this winter. I was so grateful that Nancy was open to a conversation about our ministry here in Nashville, and I believe God has blessed all of us with a prayerfully and providentially chosen outcome in filling such a vitally important role for St. George’s ministries.
Nancy possesses many strengths and brings with her a background exceptionally well-suited for this position. A native of Jacksonville, Nancy received her undergraduate BA in Music from Sewanee: The University of the South where she was the Organ-Scholar at All Saints’ Chapel. She earned a Master of Music in Organ Performance at The Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland, Ohio. Nancy and I overlapped for a time during my seminary education at Sewanee as she was the Assistant University Organist and Choirmaster, and Interim University Organist and Choirmaster from 1992-1994.
In my experience working alongside Nancy I witnessed someone who is personable, friendly, gracious, of high character, deep faith, extremely professional, always well-prepared, and beloved by staff and parishioners. I observed very high loyalty to her from choir members, as well as immense respect for her talents throughout the community and beyond. By her own admission, Nancy is a “church nerd,” profoundly shaped by the classical worship tradition and gifted in planning liturgy. And Nancy is an extremely talented musician as well as highly skilled conductor. I am very eager to witness the fruits born of her leadership overseeing our impressive music programming into the years to come.
Nancy is married to Rich Mischinski, currently Head of the Upper School at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Austin. Rich hopes to continue his professional career as an independent school educator here in Nashville. Nancy and Rich have two precious daughters, Shealy (10) and Kate (7).
I am profoundly thankful to God for this privilege of once again sharing in ministry with Nancy Reiser, and I trust you will very quickly understand the reason for my gratitude and excitement. I also know you will look forward to welcoming Nancy, Rich, Shealy and Kate into our common life later this coming summer.
-Leigh +
Gerry Senechal, Associate Director of Music Ministries & Organist
gerry.senechal@stgeorgesnashville.org
Ext. 252
Gerry Senechal began his musical career at the age of eight when he became organist of his father’s Episcopal church. At ten, he joined the All Saints’ Men and Boys Choir of Worcester, Massachusetts under the direction of Ron Stalford. He sang with All Saints’ for four years, touring England with the choir and eventually being named Head Chorister. He left All Saints’ in 1994 to serve as Organist of Oakdale United Methodist Church in West Boyston, Massachusetts, where he remained until leaving for college. Gerry continued his education at the University of the South, where he received two prestigious music awards: the Judy Running Memorial Prize and Gilbert Gilchrist Memorial Music Award. He also was included in Who’s Who of American College Students, and was elected President of the University Choir which toured England three times. Upon graduation, Gerry completed a two-year music internship at West End United Methodist Church in Nashville before beginning ministry at St. George’s, where he now serves as Associate Director of Music Ministries. He is particularly passionate about his work directing St. Gregory’s Choir, who served as Choir-in-Residence at Washington National Cathedral this past July. He has played numerous concerts in the US and has toured with various groups overseas. Gerry enjoys improvisation, and in 2006 became a published composer when St. James Music Press released fourteen of his original free hymn accompaniments.
Kim Messer, Music Librarian & Administrator
kim.messer@stgeorgesnashville.org
Ext. 253
Kim Messer comes to St. George’s with over 10 years in the music publishing business. Her love of performance art began as a young child and has continued through her life and career. Kim is a creative consultant who for over 5 years has served in roles such as product developer, record producer, video director, editor and event planner. She has worked for companies across the creative spectrum such as Nashville Children’s Theatre and Lillenas Publishing Company. She has several church musicals in print as well as a book on scriptwriting, and she served as executive producer on the 2009 Dove Award Winner, An Island Christmas for Youth/Children’s Musical. In addition, Kim has done various projects for companies such as Saddleback Church, LifeWay Music Service, Brentwood Benson and Fla.vor Alliance Media Group. Kim resides with her daughter Emma in beautiful Franklin, TN.
Aynsley Martindale, Music Leader for The Table
aynsley.martindale@stgeorgesnashville.org
Aynsley came on staff in August 2011 as Music Leader for The Table, a new setting for worship here at St. George’s. She grew up in the Ann Arbor, MI area and is a 1998 graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, earning her B.M.A. in Vocal Jazz Studies. A classically trained mezzo-soprano, Aynsley has sung with the Maynooth College Chamber Choir at the National Concert Hall in Dublin (Ireland), Nashville Opera Chorus, and is now in her 7th season as a professional singer in the Nashville Symphony Chorus and Chamber Chorus. She made her solo debut with the Nashville Symphony in March 2007, opening the second half of the concert for Irish tenor, John McDermott, in A Celtic Celebration. Aynsley directs her own 501(c)3 department of Artists in Christian Testimony Intl, with which she has served as a “musicianary” in Eastern Europe, group facilitator for Restore Ministries, and worship leader at Tennessee Prison for Women. She performs concerts, radio shows and recording sessions in various styles including jazz, rhythm & blues, classical, Irish folk, as well as sacred and contemporary worship. Aynsley has released several CDs: Passage is an eclectic inspirational collection, Cradle is a collection of lullabies from around the world, and Rhythm and Songs features her jazz vocals with the JJ Saint James Band.
Rachel Hansbury
Rachel Hansbury is a mezzo-soprano native to Asheville,NC. She recently completed her Master's in Music (Vocal Performance) at Austin Peay State University as a student of Dr. Sharon Mabry. In addition to her work with the adult and youth choirs at St. George's, she is a professor of music theory, aural skills, and class voice at Austin Peay State University. She is also proud to serve on the voice faculty of Clarksville 's Community School of the Arts and the W.O. Smith School of Music while maintaining a private studio in the Nashville area. Ms. Hansbury sings with the Nashville Symphony Chorus and Music City Baroque with previous solo and ensemble engagements in Clarksville, TN, Houston, TX and Wells, England. She supports St. George's affiliation with the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) and has worked for over five years as a proctor for the RSCM Gulf Coast Course under musical direction of experts in the field such as Gerre Hancock and Bruce Neswick. She is thrilled to lead the St. Dunstan's and St. Cecelia's choirs and offer voice and musical coaching to St. Alban's and St. Gregory 's choirs.