A New Season of Music Ministry at West End

A message from

Rev. William Critzman
Senior Minister

Friends,
 
This Sunday in worship we will acknowledge the many gifts Barry Kloda has shared with us as Interim Music Director.  Barry is with us through the end of February, but this Sunday we will take a moment to give thanks to God, and to Barry, for journeying with us through this season of change.
 
We will do so as our own Musician Search Team has now completed their work as well.  Below is a message from co-chairs Winnie Shao and Sarah Reid, and I hope you will be as excited as I am.
 
–Will

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Dear West End friends,
 
Last fall, the Board assembled a Musician Search Team and charged it with finding a new permanent Director of Music Ministry. After a process of prayerful discernment, we conducted a nationwide search that resulted in 24 complete applications, in-depth interviews with a semifinalist round of 8, and full auditions with sanctuary choir for 3 talented finalists. After this process, we had a unanimous recommendation to hire, and we are thrilled to announce that Derrick Byars has accepted our offer and will be joining our staff on March 1st.

Derrick (they/them) is an accomplished music director, conductor, and composer who has been steeped in the life of the church since childhood. Derrick served as the Director of Music and Arts at Park Avenue United Methodist Church until 2022, overseeing choral programs, worship music, and arts initiatives there. Most recently, they have been honing their skills as a theatrical producer, working at the Manhattan School of Music, the Ensemble Studio Theater, and the Apollo Theater. In both worlds–church ministry and theater–Derrick is committed to “music as a vehicle for storytelling, connection, and artistic excellence.”
 
Derrick is a talented organist and pianist, but we most appreciated the easy way that they communicated and collaborated throughout the audition and interview process. During auditions with our choir, they were able to tease out interesting shades of vocal color and readily welcomed the participation of amateur instrumentalists. They are thoughtful about how music binds communities together, striking just the right balance of traditional hymn singing with broadening repertoire to find new favorite songs. And, finally, we’re excited by their creative vision and their belief that West End can become even more of an arts destination here on the Upper West Side, particularly through offering consistently high-quality music and crafting outreach initiatives like community and youth programs.
 
Derrick’s arrival coincides with the start of the holy season of Lent, and they’re already at work with the team planning new programming. They’ll be present during the Jazz Brunch service on March 2; please take the time to introduce yourselves and give them a warm welcome.
 
Sincerely,
 
Sarah Reid and Winnie Shao, Co-Chairs
On behalf of the rest of the Musician Search Team:
Doug Hood
Lynne Mold-Haynes
Nathan Stilwell