Celebrating 20 Years of Music Ministry Interns

As our new season has started, the music ministry is excited to welcome three new music ministry interns to St. John's, all of them students at UNM: Mathena Page (working on her Master of Music in Voice Performance and Music Education), Sophia Rodriguez (Bachelor of Music in Music Education), and Robert Whelan (Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance).

Mathena, Sophia, and Robert will sing with the Chancel Choir, and will also assist with our children's and youth music programs. You'll have an opportunity to hear them in services as soloists and worship leaders. Each of them bring a great deal of talent and experience, and we're so happy that they'll be part of the St. John's community this year.

The St. John's Music Ministry Internship program was founded in 2006 with a gift from Richard Greenleaf. The program has a special place in my heart, because it was through an internship at a United Methodist congregation in Texas that I discovered my calling into music ministry; before that experience, I had no idea that one could have a full-time career in church music.

From the beginning, the goal of the program has been to provide music students with positive and practical experience teaching and conducting in a church context. Interns must be current undergraduate or graduate students studying music performance or education, and must bring the recommendation of their professors.

In the twenty years since its founding, we've welcomed over 30 interns into the program. Almost without exception, they have added wonderful energy and musicality to the life of our congregation, and most have made successful careers in music (including many who are current music educators in Albuquerque). Keeping in touch with the alumni network has been a joy!

Not surprisingly, one of the keys to the success of the program has been that these are paid internships, providing needed income to students in the midst of their education. Since the initial donation, many members of the St. John's community have generously supported the program, which exists outside of the church budget. If you'd like to know more about how to support the Music Ministry Internship program, please send me an email.

We welcome Mathena, Sophia, and Robert, and look forward to the gifts they will bring to St. John's!

Matthew Greer

Director of Music and Worship Ministries