Since May 2005 Dave Collett has served as Minister of Music and Arts at Coker UMC in San Antonio, Texas. He directs an ambitious music and arts ministry encompassing traditional and non-traditional musical styles featuring sixteen choirs and ensembles, the 55-member Coker Orchestra, the Arts at Coker Concert Series and a sacred dance ministry. Reverend Collett is a life-long Methodist born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  His passion continues to be energizing and encouraging children, youth and adults to sing their faith. Dave felt a call into music ministry as an 11th grader and in 2009 completes 29 years in music ministry. He completed undergraduate studies in voice and church music at Stetson University. He earned a masters degree in sacred music from Perkins School of Theology and a master of music degree in choral conducting at Southern Methodist University's Meadows School of the Arts. Dave was ordained a diaconal minister in 1981 and a permanent deacon in the United Methodist Church in 1997. In his years in ministry Dave has served UM churches in Florida, Ohio, Alabama and Texas. He loves fishing and gardening and lists his wife Robin, daughter Grace and serving Coker UMC as his greatest blessings.

 

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 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.

 

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.

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Nancy Laine first starting playing organ for her church at age 14 at Brandon Ave. UMC in Dallas. She graduated from SMU with a degree in piano, but has spent her career working at AT&T, currently in Finance. When SBC brought her to San Antonio in 2000, it didn't take long for Nancy and her family to become active in the wonderful music programs at Coker. In addition to serving Coker as organist since 2003, Nancy is involved in the American Guild of Organists, Mu Phi Epsilon music fraternity, and as a Reagan High School band parent.

 

"I began studying piano lessons when I was six years old.  My first teacher was our church organist, Mrs. Wheat.  She insisted that I learn one hymn from the hymnal each week, along with the regular lessons," says Brenda Venable, Church Accompanist.  "Mother made sure I had perfect attendance in children's and youth choirs, along the way."  Brenda became the church pianist at her home church at the age of 13, and continued in that position until her senior year at college.  After graduating from Western Kentucky University, marriage and family intervened.  Even though holding down a staff position became difficult, adult choir membership continued.  "I think it's in my D.N.A.," she smiles.  At Coker, Brenda's responsibilities are filling in for Nancy Laine at Adult Choir rehearsal, accompanying the Agape Singers at the 8:15 worship service, helping with children's choirs, playing for the Saturday evening and Healing services, and "jumping in where I'm needed," she says.  Since 1992, Brenda has been an active participant in the life of Coker UMC.  "When we moved here from another state, Coker became our family.  I'm grateful for the many opportunities to serve and give out the welcome we richly received."