Tel: 540-951-1000
Tel: 540-951-1000
Tel: 540-951-1000
Welcome to our first Luther Memorial Student Vocalist!
About Jillian Donahue
Jillian Donahue is a graduate student in Music Education at Virginia Tech, where she studied with Brian Thorsett. She hails from Leesburg, Virginia and will graduate this coming May. She plans to teach middle or high school after graduation, and any school will be lucky to have her! In addition to her fine teaching, Jillian is an accomplished mezzo-soprano, performing with the VT Chamber Singers, the Blacksburg Community Strings, the Radford University Opera, and in various opera workshops and recitals. Jillian says, "I am excited to continue to connect with my faith through music after singing in my hometown worship team through middle and high school." Her beautiful voice and spirit will be most welcome this year at LMLC, as the first ever Luther Memorial Student Vocalist!
Amy Cowan, Choir Director
Amy Cowan graduated with a B.M. in Voice from Rice University, then an M.M. in Opera Performance from The Longy School of Music in Massachusetts. In 2008, she earned a Certification in Kodaly Methodology from the prestigious program at Holy Names University in Oakland, where she studied solfege and music theory with Erzebet Hegyi, and choral conducting with Judith Hartyanyi. She has almost twenty years of experience teaching and has held positions with San Francisco Arts Education Project, Vivace Youth Chorus of San Jose, Coastal Repertory Theatre, and Seacrest School, among many others. In addition to maintaining a private voice studio for many years both in Blacksburg and in California, Amy is an adjunct Voice Instructor at Virginia Tech and has taught courses in Diction and Music Appreciation, and regularly substitutes for the Voice faculty there. Her long history with Lutherans began back in the Lutheran Summer Music programs she attended each year as a young high school singer, and then as a professional soloist with church choirs consistently throughout university and graduate school. She then directed the music at Coastside Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in California, for ten years before moving to Blacksburg with her family. Though primarily a teacher, Amy's favorite roles as a singer include Maria in The Sound of Music, Sister Mary Amnesia in Nunsense, and her very first professional role at age 17, as the First Spirit in Houston Grand Opera's version of The Magic Flute. She has also given many recitals in Texas and California, and performed professionally with Mercury Baroque and Victoria Bach Festival before turning her focus to teaching and family. Amy lives in Blacksburg with her husband and two children, and recently became a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher, which informs her work with singers each and every day. She is happy to be part of the LMLC community and ministry!
Daniel Taylor, Worship Accompanist
Originally from Independence, VA, Daniel Kyle Taylor currently resides in Blacksburg, VA. He works as a freelance accompanist and teaches private lessons in Piano, French Horn, Trumpet, and Voice. He attended Concord University for Music Education. In addition to his studies in music, Daniel also holds a degree in Business Management and Leadership. He has a decade of experience as a professional church musician. Remaining active as a performer in community groups, he performs with the Summer Musical Enterprise and is the Accompanist and Co-Director of the Giles Community Singers. In May of 2013, Daniel worked with the Concord University Collegiate Singers as the Organist, as the group commissioned a new choral setting. Aside from classical/traditional collegiate work, Daniel also enjoys serving in musical theatre productions, in an array of capacities, both instrumental and vocal. When not working in the musical setting, Daniel serves as Business Development Manager for Sanico, a janitorial supply company.
This beautiful bench was placed on the Virginia Tech golf course in November 2020 in loving memory of our member, avid golfer and 30-year choir director,
Tom Wilson.
The History of Music at Luther Memorial
Personal Reflections about the Organ
Personal Reflections about the Organ
Personal Reflections about the Organ
by Glen I. Earthman
The organ committee went about their work very studiously, examining all of the literature that was presented by the various companies that responded to our request. Discussions were held by the committee members about the needs of the church for an organ. All of this was in
preparation for the serious examination of proposals in response to our RFP. The responses to the RFP took the form of a representative of the organ company explaining the benefits of their organ plus a recording of the sound of an organ their company manufactures. Read more...
Memories of the Schlicker Organ
Personal Reflections about the Organ
Personal Reflections about the Organ
by Deacon Jane Elliott
When we began serving at Luther Memorial in 1981, there was already interest in a new organ. In 1983 this dream began becoming reality. A dream was beginning for a musical instrument to lead worship well by supporting and leading congregational singing, music of the liturgy, and accompanying choirs and soloists with pleasing and diverse musical tonal qualities. It was a dream to enhance the expanding music program and varied worship life of the congregation. Read more...
Choir Reflections
Personal Reflections about the Organ
Choir Reflections
By Gail King, Former Organist
The Luther Memorial Choir is an enthusiastic group of singers who enrich worship and support one another in singing and fellowship. The choir has no membership requirements except a desire to praise God in song. Over
the years it has been blessed by the voices of Virgina Tech student members as well as long-time members of Luther Memorial. The choir has weekly rehearsals and special rehearsals as needed. Read more...