Tom Trenney, Minister of Music

Tom Trenney serves as Minister of Music to First-Plymouth, guiding the Plymouth Choir, Te Deum, Cantorei, and the Choristers. Tom is Artistic Director of Abendmusik at First-Plymouth, conducting the Abendmusik Chorus and ABENDCHOR, and conductor of the Women's Chorale at Doane College. Tom is also Music Director of sounding light- the chamber choir of Many Voices…One Song, which he founded in Southeastern Michigan. A graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Eastman School of Music, Tom is grateful for his teachers and mentors: Anton Armstrong, David Davidson, David Higgs, William Weinert, Anne Wilson, and Todd Wilson.

Tom shares his passion as pastoral musician and teacher in worship at First-Plymouth, in the classroom at Doane College, and in performances all around the country. Known for his engaging improvisations on hymns, silent films, scripture, poetry, and artwork, Tom became the first organist to be awarded First Prize and Audience Prize in the American Guild of Organists’ (AGO) National Competition in Organ Improvisation in 2006.

Represented by Karen McFarlane Artists Concert Management (www.concertorganists.com), Tom has been featured as performer and teacher at regional and national conventions of the American Guild of Organists, the Organ Historical Society, the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, National Pastoral Musicians, the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts, and the Calvin Institute of Worship.

Tom and his partner, Brent Shaw, live near Holmes Lake and are grateful to be part of the First-Plymouth congregation and the Lincoln community.