Rev. Don McAvoy, Jr. serves as the Minister of Music at Kerrville's First United Methodist Church where he oversees a comprehensive music program that includes choral and instrumental music for all ages and abilities and an extensive musical outreach to the entire Hill Country Community. Prior to his appointment to Kerrville, Don has served United Methodist churches in Brenham, Rockwall and San Antonio, TX; Edina, MN; and Norman, OK.

Don graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX in 1987 with a B.A. in Music (Voice/Church Music). From 1990-1993 he attended Southern Methodist University's Perkins School of Theology where he became certified by the United Methodist Church in Church Music and subsequently completed the coursework dor Diaconal Ministry. He was consecrated in the North Texas Conference in 1994 and was ordained by the Southwest Texas Confrence as a Deacon in Full Connection in 1997. In 2006, he graduated from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN with a Masters of Sacred Music degree with an emphasis in Choral Conducting. He has studied Church Music with Dr. Paul Westermeyer, Dr. John Ferguson, Dr. Michael Hawn, and Jane Marshall. Don has studied conducting under Dr. Kenneth Sheppard, Dr. Bev Henson, Dr. Anton Armstrong, adn Dr. Robert Scholz. His professional involvement includes the Texas Choral Directors Association, American Choral Directors Association, Choristers Guild, the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, YouthCUE, and the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts.

Don is married to Michele Wells McAvoy and together they are the proud parents of Alexander (b. 1997). The McAvoys enjoy movies, travelling, and spending time in the Colorado Rockies.

Lynda Ables is the Director of Music Emeritus at the Kerrville First United Methodist Church. From 1978 until her retirement in 2009, she developed the program to include all its present choirs, orchestras and ensembles. In 1998 she led a choir from the church on a two week tour of England and in 2001, led a two week tour of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Ables is a past conductor of the kerrville Community Chorus and has taught music on the college level, at elder hostels and for numerous clinics and retreats. She is a past presidentand lifetime board member of the Kerrville Performing Arts Society and is the founder and facilitator of the Hill Country Youth Orchestras. She is a past member of the Board of Directors of the HIll Country Arts Foundation and is a graduate of Leadership Kerr County. Ables was honored as Kerrville's Outstanding Woman of the Year in 1989. Ables is the founder of Kerrville community MESSIAH Sing and the Community Patriotic Sing held each July 4th. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree and a Master's Degree in Music History and Theory.

Lynda Ables has conducted her touring choirs in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican in Rome; The Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi; Salsbury, England; Westminster Cathedral in London, England and numerous other exciting venues. Her touring choir sand in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland in July of 2007.

Dr. Sabrina Adrian happily began as organist at Kerrville First United Methodist Church in September of 2002, after a five year tenure as organist at First Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, Texas. She has played organs around the world in Korea, Hungary, Austria, France, England, Scotland, and Texas

Sabrina brings a wealth of experience, education and spirituality to our church music ministry. A United Methodist, Sabrina has also served as organist at Travis Park UMC, Bethany UMC in Austin, Coker UMC and Boerne UMC. She holds degrees that include Bachelor of Music, piano performance from Southwestern University; Master of Music, organ performance, University of Texas at San Antonio; Master of Music, piano performance, University of Texas at San Antonio; and Doctorate in Musical Arts, Organ Performance from the University of Texas in Austin. She studied piano with Drusilia Huffmaster, Suzanne Widmar, Dr. Bess Hieronymus and Dr. Frank Speller.

Sabrina has been a very active accompanist, playing for the San Antonio Choral Society, the New Texas Festival,the UT Concert Choir, the UT Early Music Ensemble and other instrumental and choral ensembles.

Jeanne Stacy began serving as the Chimes and Handbell Choir Director in September of 2001. She started playing handbells and chimes when she was in the 6th grade at the First United Methodist Church in Huntsville, Texas, where she grew up. Jeanne was a member of the adult handbell choir there until she left for college. She also served as the children's choir piano accompanist for several years. After graduating from Huntsville High School, where she was a member of the marching band and wind ensemble, Jeane attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. She graduated from Brown in 1990 with a degree English and American Literature.

Jeanne is the Assistant Camp Director at Camp Mystic, located in Hunt, Texas, where the she first attended camp in 1980. Jeanne and her husband, Philip, have two children, Gretchen and Thomas.

For more information, email Jeanne at jstacy@ktc.com

Judy Miner, Music Staff Assistant, sings in our Chancel Choir and is a retired school counselor and teacher. Judy loves quilting and she and her husband own an air strip near Comfort. She maintains the music library and handles the business of running the music ministry.

 Bios for:

Mary Boman, Assistant Music Director for Children's Choirs

Karen Shirer, Assistant Music Director/Worship Leader

Praise Team Leaders (Interim):  Spencer Thomas, Bill Aycock and Nicki Carlson