Grades 6 through 12
All youth are welcome. The SFC Choir sings in worship one to two times a month.
Rehearsal: Sundays, 12:30 PM in the Choir Room.
Director: Wendy West Contact
Coker Orchestra
Grades 6 through 12
Youth are an integral part of this group. The orchestra plays once a month in worship and during seasonal events such as Christmas, Easter, and other special occasions. Contact Duane Hoff, Director, or the music office for more information and a schedule.
Coker Sacred Dance Ministry
Grades 6 through 12
The Moving Spirit Dancers is a sacred dance ministry whose purpose is to promote creative expression through the art of liturgical and expressive dance. No auditions are necessary, and you don't have to be a professional to join us.
Rehearsal: Thursdays, 7:00 - 8:00 PM in the Sanctuary.
David Stone works with the Celebrate! & Youth bands and is Worship Leader for the Celebrate! Worship service. David has worked in the music industry since 1974. He has taught, played in a variety of venues before audiences up to 15,000 people. He has also represented numerous manufacturers presenting clinics and demonstrations all over the country.
David’s greatest joy is when he sees people getting it and if you are not sure what we’re talking about, we would like to invite you to Celebrate! on Sunday mornings at 9:30 & 11:00AM.
Wendy West
Assistant Director of Music
872-6187
Wendy has served as the Assistant Director if Music Ministries for the last five years. She grew up with Coker Church in her youth and has been a Coker member since 1985. She is coordinator of the Children’s Music Ministry, Youth Music Ministry (SFC choir and youth bells), and the 8:15 Agape Choir director.
Wendy is a graduate of Southwestern University (BM in vocal music), University of Denver (MM in vocal music), and Metro State College of Denver (BA in music education) and also has a level III Kodaly music certification.
In addition to her work at Coker, Wendy is a full-time elementary music teacher with 8 years combined experience in teaching elementary and middle school.
Duane Hoff
Assistant Director of Instrumental Music
493-1523
Born in Iowa, Duane began playing piano at age 6, and played the Prokofief Concerto No. 1 when he was twelve. At age 17 he started the study of conducting with Henry Denecke, a veteran of several years in the NBC Symphony under Toscanini. It was Denecke who paved the way for Duane to study with Dmitri Mitropoulos, who was then the conductor of the New York Philharmonic.
Duane considers it very good fortune to have been able to pursue his love of music and a military career at the same time. First trained as a pilot, he was then sent to the U.S.A.F Band in Washington D.C. where he conducted the band in “Head of State” ceremonies during the Eisenhower administration. He also credits his staff arrangers with the Air Force Band for teaching him a great deal about arranging. While stationed in Japan, and under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State, he conducted the NHK (Japan National) Orchestra and Tokyo Youth Orchestra. In that capacity he wrote and orchestrated 10 television shows for NHK. While doing graduate work at the University of Indiana, Duane studied composition with Roy Harris and Bernard Heiden. From 1968 to 1978 he was Commander of the Air Force Band of the West here in San Antonio and trained conductors for the Air Force. He retired from active duty in 1978.
Duane began attending Coker UMC 25 years ago and has written two major works for the 80-member adult Chancel Choir – Te Deum Laudamus and Stabat Mater, along with 20 anthems and the orchestrations of some 30 other anthems by other composers. When the Minister of Music position was unfilled he has come from the tenor section to be the interim director of the choir on three different occasions. In 2003 Duane began dreaming about an in-house orchestra that would be of the highest quality to replace hired musicians from the San Antonio Symphony for major works and worship services at Coker. Thanks to Duane’s talent as a hedge fund manager, a not-for-profit foundation now supports scholarships for orchestra musicians upon graduation from senior high school. Beginning with the fall 2009 school year, the foundation will also support choral scholarships upon graduation from senior high school for the newly created Coker Choral Scholars program.
Shannon Wolfe
Director, Coker Moving Spirit Dancers
492-6181
Shannon is a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, having joined Coker with her husband, George, in 2003. They have 3 married sons and 11 grandchildren, age 3 months to 14 years. In 1987, Shannon began a career in the United Methodist Church. She was commissioned as a Parish Christian Educator in 1994, serving two congregations (a total of 16 years). Shannon is currently employed by the SWTX Conference as an Administrative Assistant in the Epicopal Office.
"Music has always been a vital part of my life, and I've always wanted to be a 'real' dancer," comments Shannon. "Piano, school orchestra & band, handbells, choir and directing children's choir have all played a part in the music of my life. It was in a liturgical dance workshop in 1989 where seeds were planted...that eventually grew into a 'real' ministry of dance. It soon became evident that God's plan was much more than I could have imagined! Through study, practice, and application, I learned 'expressive sign' liturgical dance, incorporating 'praise-dance ribbons' on occasion. God has provided the way and given the gift, opening doors to on-going training as well as opportunities to dance at Coker and in the community."
As Director, Shannon has organized and established the Coker Dance Ministry, often creating new choreography for Sunday morning anthems. She helps dancers to understand the purpose and goal of liturgical dance and provides spiritual leadership on a weekly basis. "It is a great privilege and joy to praise and worship God through sacred dance. As life is movement...so dance becomes the moving spirit of life. Come, join the dance!"
