Music Department Staff
Minister of Music and Arts
Dr. Will K. Andress
Dr. Andress earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Centenary in 1961. Subsequent to that he earned a graduate degree in church music from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He earned a second Master of Music degree from East Carolina University before completing his doctorate in 1971 at Florida State University. During his postgraduate study years, Dr. Andress held choral conducting positions in several churches and schools. He then returned to Shreveport in 1971 to become the Minister of Music at First United Methodist Church where he continues to hold this position in addition to directing the Centenary College Choir. Dr. Andress has been a frequent soloist for choral concerts, operas and area symphony orchestras. He serves as guest instructor for choral clinics, is often enlisted as an adjudicator for musical competitions, and prepares choruses for area symphonies and opera companies. He is an ordained minister, a local pastor in the United Methodist Church, and was a consultant for the current hymnal of the United Methodist Church.
Church Organist
E. Ray Peebles
Mr. Peebles serves as organist and music associate at First United Methodist Church, Shreveport, Lousiania. Ray performs weekly on the five-manual, 105-rank Moller organ. He has concertized extensively throughout the United States and Europe, including recitals on the famed Grand Court organ in Wanamaker's Department Store in Philadelphia, the Dupont Estate organ, Longwood Gardens, Westminster Abbey, London, and Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris. He has played with the Florida, Memphis and Shreveport Symphony Orchestras. He is presently serving as Dean of the North Louisiana Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. A skilled choral director, holding a B.A. in Church Music, Mercer University, Macon, Georgia and a Master of Music in Choral and Organ from Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida. He has served First Presbyterian Church, Orlando, Florida and Second Presbyterian Church, Memphis,Tennessee as both principal organist and Associate Director of Music and the Arts. His teachers have included Robert Parris, Albert Travis, Michael Corzine, Warren Hutton, and Jean Guillou in organ and Collene Kirk and Harold Deck in Choral Conducting.
Church Pianist
Dr. La Wanda Blakeney
Dr. Blakeney holds the Bachelor of Music in Piano from Mississippi University for Women, as well as a Master of Music and a Ph.D in Musicology from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Blakeney has conducted numerous workshops throughout the South and is the recipient of several awards including Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program. In addition, she appears in the Shreveport/Bossier area as a soloist and accompanist, maintains a private piano studio, and until recently, serviced as organist at another local church.
Amy Wakefield
Director, Chapel Choir
Amy is a graduate of Centenary College of Louisiana and is the choral director at Cope Middle School in Bossier City. She is musical director for the Performing Arts Center musicals and assists with the direction of the Chancel Choir of the church.
Margaret W. Jones
Director, Grace Notes
Margaret is a native of Shreveport and a widely acclaimed soprano soloist. Margaret was a music major in college and active in the music life of the church and community.
Janet Coughlin
Accompanist
Janet is a native of Shreveport, a graduate of Centenary College of Louisiana in piano. She is a piano teacher and the choral director at Newton Smith Elementary School in Shreveport. In addition to singing in the Chancel Choir Janet accompanies the Grace Notes.
Christine Linschoten
Accompanist
Christine is from Baton Rouge, LA and is a senior Music Education Major at Centenary College with an emphasis in piano. She is an accompanist for the Centenary College Choir.
Additional Staff
Kass Gray ~ Office Manager/Exec. Admin Asst/Coordinator, Performing Arts Ctr.
Rex Gamble ~ Music Librarian
Melvin Simmons ~ Asst Music Librarian/Music Hall Art Gallery Coordinator
Suzzanne Bright ~ Director, Cherub Choir (Preschool)
Julia Andress ~ Accompanist, Cherub Choir
Emily Viskozki ~ Director, Carol Choir (1st & 2nd grades) and Concord Choir (3rd & 4th grades)
Tom Hundemer ~ Director, First Methodist Brass
Laura Crawford ~ Director, First Methodist Strings
Will Andress ~ Producer, Performing Arts Center
Richard Folmer ~ Stage Director, Performing Arts Center
Jamie Sanders ~ Technical Director, Performing Arts Center
Music Department
First United Methodist Church
P.O. Drawer 1567
Shreveport, Louisiana 71165-1567
Office ~ 318.429.6887
FAX ~ 318.429.6877
email ~
kgray@fumcshreveport.org
