Lynda Ables Director of Music

    Lynda Ables has been Director of Music at the Kerrville First United Methodist Church since 1978. During that time she has developed the program to include 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 president and life-time 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 the 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. 
     In 2002, for her life of love and devotion to Jesus Christ and the music program of FUMC Kerrville, Lynda was honored with the Lynda Ables Scholarship Fund.  The scholarships are available for her use for youth in the church. Lynda says she feels blessed to have the wonderful opportunity to help these young people with their desire to further their music abilities. This scholarship is open for contributions from anyone who would like to honor Lynda and help the youth of the church reach their music goals.
     Lynda Ables has conducted her touring choirs in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican in Rome; The Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi; Salzburg Cathedral in Salzburg, Austria; Melk Abby in Austria; Freiburg Cathedral in Germany; Salsbury Cathedral in Salsbury, England; Westminster Cathedral in London, England and numerous other exciting venues. Her touring choir will sing in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland in July of 2007.          

      Michael Kahl was born in Dallas, TX on June 24, 1967.  His parents Harry and Belia Kahl were living on the campus of Southern Methodist University where Harry was studying to become a Minister at the Perkins School of Theology.  The Kahl family along with Michael’s sister Kathy moved to El Paso, TX where Michael grew up playing baseball and running in track and became active in music with his youth choir at church and his high school choir.  Mr. Kahl graduated from the University of TX. At El Paso in 1991 with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education.  Some of Michael’s fondest memories of his years in El Paso were going dirt biking, camping, fishing and hunting with his friends and family. Mr. Kahl also enjoyed playing in “garage” bands, singing in the University Choir and performing in community theater productions in the El Paso area.
     Michael went to Dallas in 1991 to pursue a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance at Southern Methodist University.  In 1993, he moved to Hartford, CT to pursue an Artist Diploma  Degree at Hartt Conservatory. From 1993-1995, Mr. Kahl lived in Hartford, CT (9 months), Jamestown, NY, (3 months) San Antonio (4 months) and Portland, OR (7 months).  It was during this time that Michael sang with various opera companies and literally could put everything he owned in the back of his pick-up truck.  It was a chance to experience different parts of the country,  be exposed to quality music and an opportunity to work with the finest musicians in the opera field. In 1995, Michael Kahl accepted a part-time voice teaching position at Mesa Community College in Mesa, AZ and a Music Director’s position at Crossroads United Methodist Church in Phoenix.  Mr. Kahl still sang with some opera companies like Arizona Opera and El Paso Opera but he gradually made the shift from performer to teacher and director. 
     It became apparent to Mr. Kahl that he enjoyed teaching and directing much more than he ever did performing on the stage.  It was also during this time that he starting dating his lovely wife Joy and they were married on March 13, 1998. In June of 1998, Joy and Michael moved to San Antonio where Michael became the Music Director at Travis Park United Methodist Church and worked there until June of this year.  In 2002-03, Mr. Kahl was the choir director and a voice instructor at Palo Alto Community College in San Antonio. From 2003-04, Mr. Kahl was the Artistic Director for the Alamo City Men’s Chorale in San Antonio. In the spring semester of 2003, Mr. Kahl started working at Schreiner University as the choir director and voice instructor.  In July of 2004, Mr. Kahl and his wife moved to Kerrville from San Antonio. Michael will start working at First United Methodist in Kerrville in July, 2005 as the Associate Director of Music.  Joy and Michael are looking forward to attending First United Methodist and for the opportunity for Michael to work with the wonderful music director, Lynda Ables and everyone in the music department.

     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 6^th 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, Jeanne attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.  She graduated from Brown in 1990 with a degree in English and American Literature.
     Jeanne is the Assistant Camp Director at Camp Mystic, located in Hunt, Texas, where she first attended camp in 1980.  Jeanne and her husband, Philip, have two children, Gretchen and Thomas.

Judy Miner Music Staff Assistant

  Judy Miner is the 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.

George James - Director Royal School of Church Music Boy's Choir

     GEORGE JAMES directs our Royal School of Church Music Boy's Choir. George is an experienced choral director and tenor soloist as well as an accomplished instrumentalist. As a performer, George has played concerts in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia, Washington D. C., New Jersey, New York, Michigan, California and Texas. Some notable groups with whom he has performed include the Triangle British Brass Band, the Duke University Wind Symphony and Duke Orchestra, the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) Wind Ensemble, the Duke University Chapel Choir, the Caprock and Llano Brass Quintets and the Texas Tech Trombone Choir. In addition to working with the boys and young men of our church, George is the Director of Bands for the Medina Independent School District. He sings in the Chancel Choir of the First United Methodist Church and on occasion directs that group. George also has sung with the Grand Symphony Chorus of the Symphony of the Hills. George James is a graduate of Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina (B.S. Ed, '94). Prior to moving to Medina, George was the Assistant Band Director in Floydada, Texas where he was also Music Director for the First United Methodist Church in Floydada. He also served as Adjunct Faculty at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas as a member of the low brass faculty.