The team practices on Thursdays from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM in the Sanctuary, and normally plays songs out of the Contemporary Worship Songs (***) published by Zondervan (***)
For those interested in the details, the piano is a Kauai piano purchased back in 1990 and is owned by the church.. Richard plays a Fender ePauli, acoustic guitar (his own) and a Gibson Les Paul, electric guitar (his own). The drums are Pearl 6 piece and are owned by the church. The bongo is also owned by the church.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Praise Team, please contact Adam Swecker.
Link showing James Bartolemeo playing the Kauai black piano
Brass Ensemble
The brass ensemble gathers every Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM where? to practice their trumpets, trombones and French horns for special services. They usually perform at Easter Day services and also during the Christmas concert.
If you are interested in learning more about the Brass ensemble, please contact Marilyn Murchison.
String Ensemble
Under the coordination of Carolyn Hoolihan, the string ensemble consists of those members and friends who enjoy playing their violins, violas, cellos and bassons in various special services. They practice whenever feasible and normally perform during the Christmas holidays, specifically at the annual Christmas concert and during one of the Christmas eve services.
If you’re interested in learning more about the String Ensemble, please contact Marilyn Murchison.
Youth Praise Band
Under the direction of Donna Dark, the Youth Praise Band is a new group of talented middle and high school youth who enjoy rockin’ and rollin’, but to praise God. Their music is a lot edgier than music played the Praise Team.
Members of the Youth Praise Band include:
JD McMillan – guitar
Michael Murchison – guitar
Amanda Moore – guitar
Paige Mosier - Drums
The Youth Praise Band practices every Tuesday evening from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in the Sanctuary.
For more information about the Youth Praise Band, please contact Donna Dark.
Sanctuary Organ
The organ in the sanctuary is a Moller Opus 11828 with 9 ranks and 2 manuals. The organ was installed in 1991. The company that made the Moller is now out of business. The church has the organ pipes tuned once a year.
This organ is unique in that the engineers who made the organ worked directly with the architects who designed the building to make sure the sound was perfect. That is the reason the sanctuary has hard floors (instead of carpet) and hard walls.
Solos, Duets, Quartets and Small Musical Groups
If you are interested in singing a special song, OSLC is the place for you. We are always looking for people who are interested in singing by themselves or in a small group. Please contact Marilyn Murchison if you are interested.
Easter Sunrise Choir
A special volunteer choir is assembled to provide music to support the Easter Sunrise Service. Please contact Marilyn Murchison if you are interested in learning more about this.
Music Personnel Background
OSLC is quite blessed to have many people who share their expertise and love of music in directing the church’s musical activities. While several are involved, the three ladies who do the majority of coordination are:
- Marilyn Murchison
- Christine Maconachy
- Donna Dark
Marilyn Murchison
Marilyn has been the Direction of Music Ministries at OSLC since 1995. She also plays the organ at the 8:15 AM and 11:15 AM service and directs many of the choirs at OSLC. In her not-so-spare time, she maintains communication with her husband Joe and two kids, Katie and Michael.
Marilyn was born in 1951 in Washington, DC and grew up in Bethesda and Rockville learning to love church music at Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church. She attended Duke University where she majored in French and continued the piano studies she began as a child.
After her graduation in 1973, she worked for six years at the National Endowment for the Arts as a Grants Administrator. During that time, she began to study organ with William Watkins, a well-known Washington church organist, and served as Assistant Director of Music at St. Columbia’s Episcopal Church from 1976 to 1978.
In 1978, she began studies towards her master’s degree in church music and organ at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. While completing her degree, she was Minister of Music at Stockton Presbyterian Church in Stockton, New Jersey and then organist and choir director at Kingston Presbyterian Church in Kingston, New Jersey.
In 1982, she moved back to the Washington area and became Director of Music at the Falls Church (Episcopal) in Virginia. In that church of 1,800 members, she directed adult, youth and two children’s choirs, the bell choir and played the organ.
She resigned from that position in 1989 to move with her family to France for a year. Upon returning and settling in Laurel, she and her family joined Our Savior Lutheran Church in 1991.
On January 16, 2005 OSLC surprised Marilyn with a celebration for her 10 year anniversary as Church Music Director and her 30 year anniversary of using her gifts to point people to God using her musical gifts. We continue to thank God for blessing us with Marilyn.
Donna Dark
Donna is married to Mark and they have four daughters: Melanie, Stephanie, Theresa and Christina. They have lived in Laurel and Hanover, and currently live in Severn, Maryland. Donna is a long time member of OSLC, she and Mark met in choir.
Donna sings in the Praise Team and was the leader until recently. She continues to be the leader of the Youth Praise Team. Currently, she is part of the office staff and has started a term as Director of the Board of Youth, Donna is also a member of the Handbell choir.
Donna's girls have also participated in various choirs. Donna and her family are indeed a blessing to our congregation.
This past summer the whole family spent two weeks in Nordlingen, Germany, where Donna was born and spent many summers with her mother.
Christine Maconachy
Christine has been the leader of the Handbell Choir for a number of years. Christine also enjoys playing the piano, substituting for Marilyn when Marilyn goes on vacation. During the day, Christine is a high school biology teacher. Christine is married to Vic and they have 3 children.
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