July

Volume 6, Issue 7
July, 2012
Special Coming Event
AUGUST 21, 2012 PROGRAM
MICHAEL VALENTINE
TENOR VOCALIST
A native of Jefferson County and
Dandridge, TN, Michael Valentine currently
resides in Nashville. He has been a member
of First Baptist Church for twelve years and is
active in the music ministry of the church: a sanctuary choir
officer, music committee member, hand bell ensemble, and a
featured soloist.
In 2000, Michael graduated from Carson-Newman
College with a Bachelor of Music in Church Music with vocal
emphasis. Some of his accomplishments at Carson-Newman
include studying voice with John Burgin, former national
president of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Our guest placed first in his division at the National Association
of Teachers of Singing Mid-South Regional Auditions, in which
he was the first person in fourteen years from Carson-Newman
chosen as first-place winner. Under the direction of Dr. Eric
Thorson, he was a three-year member of A Cappella Choir
and Men’s Chorus. Valentine was a soloist for each major
Oratorio performance while at Carson-Newman which included
J. S. Bach’s Cantata BWV 142, For Us a Child is Born,
Handel’s Messiah, and Rutter’s Magnificat as well as a soloist
for many other occasions.
MENU
FOR
While at Belmont, Valentine was the only graduate student
chosen as tenor soloist for J. S. Bach’s Magnificat, under the
direction of Dr. Donald Neuen, and was the tenor soloist in
Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass. Michael was chosen by
competitive audition to perform in the Concerto Aria Concert
with the Belmont University Orchestra where he performed
Che Gelida Manina from Puccini’s La Boheme. He appeared
in Belmont’s opera scenes performing Lennie’s Aria from the
Carlisle Floyd opera Of Mice and Men, as well as the role of
the age in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors.
Additionally, this talented tenor vocalist has performed solo
with the Nashville Symphony, the AIMS Symphony Orchestra
in Graz, Austria where he was tenor soloist for Charles
Gounod’s St. Cecilia Mass as well as a Mozart Mass for a local
church in Graz. He performed in master classes with Marietta
Simpson and Regina Resnik, with numerous choral groups in
the Nashville area, including the role of Evangelist in J. S.
Bach’s Ascension Cantata, BWV 11 with the Vanderbilt
Community Chorus under the direction of Pamela Schneller
and members of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. In 2004,
Michael placed first in the advanced men’s division of the
National Assoc. of Teachers of Singing Mid-South Regional
Auditions held at Vanderbilt University. From 2001-2005,
Valentine was professional section leader for the choir at West
End United Methodist Church and participated in a two-week
overseas tour as a featured soloist. What a talent! We look
forward to his performance!
AUGUST 21 LUNCHEON
Fried Chicken, Desserts, and Side Items Provided by Church—Cost: $4
Reservations due by August 19. Please make reservations through your
Calling Captain, or contact Rebecca at 373-7518.
WELCOME CLIMBERS TO OUR MYSTERY PROGRAM TODAY!
YOU ARE GOING TO ENJOY OUR GUEST, DR. TOM PIERCE WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL MIME AND ACTOR. HE HAS
PERFORMED FOR OVER 25 YEARS IN FORTY STATES, JAPAN, KOREA, HONG KONG, ENGLAND, MEXICO, CUBA, AND THE
PHILLIPPINES. THE PIERCE FAMILY LIVES IN A 100-YEAR-OLD FARM HOUSE IN BETHLEHEM, GEORGIA, NEAR ATLANTA.
Spotlight!--Larry and Donna Ware
Larry and Donna joined Forest Hills
in
February,
2001.
Larry
became
the Associate Pastor of Education in
September, 2006 after retiring from a
27-year career with LifeWay Christian
Resources. In 2009, he switched positions
with Todd Young and became the Associate
Pastor of Administration. Larry has also
been leading the missions work for two
years. Donna works with the bed babies
during the 8:30 a.m. ETC and is a member
of Nancy Dunn’s Sunday School class.
Donna is a Master Gardener and has a
yard of beautiful flowers and plants. She
enjoys gardening, sewing, bead work,
hiking, putting together puzzles, playing
tennis, Bridge, Mahjong, and other table
games.
Larry was born in California while his dad
was in the United States Army during WWII.
After several moves, the family ended up in
Memphis, TN, where Larry grew up. He is
a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University
with a degree in religion and music. After
two years active duty with the United States
Army, Larry studied at Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary and graduated with
Master of Religious Education and Doctor
of Education degrees. While in Seminary,
Larry was on staff
at the Wedgwood
Baptist Church in
Ft. Worth, TX.
He then moved to
Bolivar, Missouri
where he taught
for four years at
the
Southwest
Baptist University.
In1979, Larry, Donna, and their two-year
old daughter, Natalie, moved to Nashville
where he began his career with the Baptist
Sunday
School
Board (now LifeWay
Christian Resources). Larry enjoys hiking,
tennis, reading, historical fiction, and playing
Bridge and other table games.
Their daughter, Natalie, and her husband,
Nate Lundstrom, live in Scottsdale, Arizona
where he works for APL, an international
shipping company. Natalie and Nate have
three children: Jack Wyatt who is four, Wade
Austin who is two, and Ruby Grace who is
six months old.
Larry and Donna enjoy traveling. They
have been in most of the fifty United States
and many foreign countries.
Anniversaries and Birthdays
JULY
50+ YEARS
ANNIVERSARIES
FOR JULY
Robert and Carolyn Lott—64 Years
Clyde and Mary Kelly—63 Years
Jerry and Charlotte Young—53 Years
Marvin Thomas—2nd
Mary Gebhardt—5th
Barbara Stone—4th
Glenn Hale—7th
Judy Haynes—7th
Sonja Kingston—7th
Bobbie Perry—10th
Claudine Robinson-11th
Ronald Mohler—13th
Marie Herndon—16th
Glenn Hale—17th
John Grass—17th
Audie Jones—18th
Betty Lott—18th
Bud Kingston---20th
Lester Arvin—22nd
Bob Whicker—31st
Climbers Newsletter