Annual Updates

2012

NEWS

Raymond Weidner continues teaching composition at Lynchburg College and serving as Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church, Lynchburg. This past year he was a winning composer for two national contests sponsored by Regions IV and V of the American Guild of Organists. He also has led compositional seminars in Lynchburg, VA and Lancaster, PA.

PREMIERES

Adam Lay Ybounden (SATB choir a cappella) and Te Deum (choir, brass, & organ), the choir of First Presbyterian Church, Lynchburg, VA. The Call (organ) at the Region V American Guild of Organists convention in Lexington, KY. Elevation (organ), composer at organ, First Presbyterian Church June 2011.

PERFORMANCES

Spring Serenade (divisi treble choir), Cantate of Lynchburg, VA, Peggy Haas Howell, director, March 2010. There is No Rose (SATB a cappella) New York City Master Chorale, also, Collegiate Choir of Selby College Chapel, Cambridge, UK, Dec. 2010. O Sacrum Convivium (SSA and harp) Peabody Children’s Choir, Doreen Falby, director,  Dec. 2010.

PUBLICATIONS

Elevation (organ) by MorningStar Music. Invocation (organ) by Paraclete Press. Cortege (organ and brass) by Paraclete Press.

2011

Raymond Weidner maintains a vigorous compositional schedule while serving as Director of Music and Organist at First Presbyterian Church, Lynchburg, Virginia. He was recently named a winner in the Greensboro North Carolina Chapter’s (American Guild of Organists) search for new organ works in its up-coming publication, The Greensboro Collection which will be premiered at this summer’s regional AGO convention. He has also composed four hymns (texts and tunes) for congregational use.

PREMIERES

Divertimento in the French Style (for organ) by the composer at his church in the fall along with Elevation and Amid the Calm of Winter’s Rest. The Sonata Capriccioso received its Lynchburg area premiere in a recital at Court Street Methodist Church in 10/10.

PERFORMANCES

Jesus Loves Me and Steal Away to Jesus at First Presbyterian Church on 5/10, and From the Rising of the Sun on 11/10. His organ and choral works continue to be performed by various church choirs throughout the U.S.

PUBLICATIONS

Accepted for publication are: Elevation (Wayne Leupold Editions) and From the Rising of the Sun (Paraclete Press).

2010

NEWS

Raymond Weidner is the newly appointed Director of Music and Organist at First Presbyterian Church in Lynchburg, VA, having left a similar post in Maryland where he served for 15 years. In addition, he has recently joined the faculty of Lynchburg College where he teaches composition. He was an adjudicator for the Gustavo Romero Piano Competition in Lynchburg in October 2009; a clinician for the Charlotte, NC, chapter of the American Guild of Organists in February, 2010; and continues an active performance and compositional schedule.

PREMIERES

The composer premiered his Cortege for organ, brass, and percussion in June 2008 (the work received a second performance in May 2009, Lynchburg, VA); his Implorare for organ in October 2009; and a multi-movement work for organ, Sonata Capriccioso, at Sardis Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC in February 2010.

PERFORMANCES

Christ the Lord Has Triumphed Over Death, for choir, brass, and organ, received many performances by church choirs on Easter 2009. Psalm 8 was performed in August 2009 by the composer’s wife, Margie, at First Presbyterian Church, Lynchburg; Missa Brevis was featured at a service celebrating the 25th anniversary of Paraclete Press at the Church of the Ascension, Orleans, MA, by Gloriae Deo Cantoris; and Peace I Leave with You was recently performed by the Gloriae Deo Cantoris at a worship service, in Orleans, MA.

PUBLICATIONS

Christ the Lord Has Triumphed Over Death, for choir, brass, and organ; Cortege, for organ, brass and percussion; both by Paraclete Press.

2008

Raymond Weidner maintains an active compositional schedule in addition to his duties as Director of Music at Woods Memorial Church, Severna Park, MD, and as an adjunct professor at AnneArundel Community College. He recently received a commission from the Mississippi Girlchoir to write a piece for a 150-voice festival chorus that will be premiered in June 2008. Current projects include a suite for organ, brass, and percussion; solos and anthems for church use; and a choral cantata. More information about the composer and his works may be found by visiting www.raymondweidner.com.

Premieres

The composer introduced Sing to the Lord a New Song, for SATB choir and organ, in spring 2007; and Christ the Lord Has Triumphed Over Death, for SATB choir, brass, timpani, and organ, on Easter Sunday, both at Woods Memorial Church. The 23rd Psalm for soprano solo and organ was also premiered at Woods Memorial in September.

Performances

The choir of Westminster Presbyterian Church (Hot Springs, AR), under the direction of Joyce Buettgen, performed Jesus Loves Me in September. O Sacrum Convivium received multiple performances by the Wheaton College Women’s Chorale directed by Mary Hopper; and organist Michael Sparks performed Vexilla Regis at Ascension Episcopal Church in Birmingham, AL.

Publications

French Sketches, organ; New Year Carol; Sing to the Lord a New Song; all by Paraclete Press.

Recordings

Divinum Mysterium, by organist Ken Brown, on a Christmas CD released by the choir of the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Baltimore, MD.