Worshippers at Plymouth Congregational Church will soon see someone new at the keyboard of the sanctuary’s organ, as well as directing the Chancel Choir.

Geoffrey Ward, a doctoral student at Kansas University who is working on a degree in church music and organ performance, will start July 1 as Plymouth’s director of music ministries.

It’s a newly expanded position for the church, which previously had an organist/choir master who was in charge of the Chancel Choir and provided music for Plymouth’s 9:30 a.m. Sunday worship service.

But the church’s board of music and fine arts has substantially beefed up the role, which will have Ward, 30, coordinating all the music activities of Plymouth, including the bell choirs, children’s choirs and the 11 a.m. Sunday “Gathering of Grace” service.

“Geoff brings to us not only a first-rate talent — he’s an excellent organist — but also an excitement, enthusiasm and a fresh perspective as church musicians,” says Tedder, selection committee chair.

“He has an in-depth knowledge of the history of the music, as well as a good sense of humor, which is very important when you’re leading a diverse group of volunteers.”

Ward will have an important overall role at Plymouth, according to Tedder.

“The quality of music is absolutely essential to the worship experience here,” she says.

Helen Hawley was the church’s organist/choir master the past 18 years. She is now serving in a similar position at a Kansas City-area church.

Plymouth’s associate organist/choir master is Mi-Young Jin, who previously served as interim organist. She and Ward will share organist duties at the church.

GEOFFREY WARD, a Kansas University doctoral student, is the new director of music ministries at Plymouth Congregational Church. He will start July 1 at the church.

“I’m very excited. I’m really looking forward to it — it’s going to be an awesome opportunity. They were looking for someone who is going to come and help lead the (music) program and help it grow,” Ward says.

“The people here have just been so positive and encouraging.”

Ward is a native of Brampton, a city in Ontario, Canada. He has a bachelor’s degree in trumpet performance and music education from Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada.

His teacher at KU is James Higdon, the Dane and Polly Bales Professor of Organ in the department of music and dance.

Ward and Higdon met in July 2001 in Montreal. Higdon was there to do a recital and teach master classes at a church where Ward was working as assistant organist.

“That’s how I found out about the program (at KU),” Ward says.

He arrived at KU in August 2002. He has just finished his second academic year at the university.

For Ward, the position at Plymouth will provide an important experience that his work as a graduate student alone could not provide.

“I’ve really missed not having consistent contact with a church, just to be involved in that whole process of praising God through the ministry of music. It was just kind of a void,” Ward says.

“I’d been doing some substituting, filling in for people (as a church organist). That’s fun, and it’s rewarding, but I would also have this feeling, ‘Oh, I would like to have worked with them more.'”

Then the opportunity at Plymouth arose.

“I had attended the church before, and I was very impressed with the services and the leadership. It was always a nice feeling there,” Ward says.

“The time was right, and it was something I just knew I wanted to pursue and apply for.”

Geoffrey Ward will take over as Plymouth Congregational Church's director of music ministries on July 1. He has a bachelor's degree in trumpet performance and music education from Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada.