MUSIC

Live music is performed as part of our ministry for every Sunday Service.

Organist/Music Director Gage Hansen

I am thrilled to have met with First Parish Congregational Church’s Reverend Henderson, the Music Committee and some of your choir members and been selected as your new organist/music director.  What an inviting and encouraging music leadership group.  I cannot ever remember such a fun audition!

There were jokes that the Texans have seriously invaded First Parish Church, and I confess that I am one of that invading force.  I am from Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma, but also Ohio and Michigan.  I have been a proud New Englander for 25 years now, and I far prefer it here  - the architecture and seafood is reason enough to never leave!  I only knew Mrs. Pauls’ fish sticks before moving here!  Seafood in the Southcentral and Midwestern states is not as diverse or as fresh.

I have been a church organist-pianist-harpsichordist-choir director for 34 years now.  I came here to the Boston area specifically to study organ with the Baroque and Early Music organist-specialists here.  This area is one of the world’s centers of excellence for those kind of organ studies.  My wonk Baroque music passion started me out in those areas, and I still play a fair amount of that literature.  However, I’ve recently had an advanced organ coach catch me smiling broadly while playing Brahms, and he laughed and told me, “You’ve finally discovered 'prettier' music!”  He's right!  I am now on a tear with Romantic Era organ music.  Your organ (a 1949 Kilgen treasure) is an American Classical (repertoire) organ that will support a very wide range of music literature.  I play sacred and secular organ literature from 1320 to 1980 AD (always looking for good recent composers too!), and piano literature from the 1780s to present.

I shared that I want participation at church music!  As a society many of us now think of music as just a commercial music industry commodity that we purchase, instead of making music ourselves.  Those of you with any musical ability or no musical ability have a place somewhere in the church’s musical worship!

The more tedious personal details:  I live with two enormous Irish Setter brothers that 'try' to be good dogs, but they are bred with fierce hunting instincts and try to chase down anything they think is prey (other dogs, cats, squirrels, Fall leaves!).  If you see me with road rash wounds it is not a motorcycle accident.  Instead, my setters have dragged me hard down the road to chase down something!   I have a first degree in Art & Architectural History, Criticism and Technology.  I have a second degree in Health Information Management (HIM) and am an HIM Director who helps handle and protect electronic medical records for Mass General Brigham’s five community hospitals.  Music Conservatory training just wasn’t in the cards for me ($$$$), but I have had the advantage of studying privately with some of Boston’s best Baroque and Early Music specialists and recording artists.  I am still studying (!), and now learning trumpet and viola.  Yes!  Adults CAN learn new musical instruments and choral literature: we just have to do it with more deliberation than younger people.  

Let’s all  learn to make worship music together! 

Psalm 98:4 “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.”

Warm regards, Gage

Interim Pianist: Mary Krikorian

The First Parish Church of Newbury Choir performs for Easter and Christmas Eve. All are invited to join the choir.