GREETINGS TO ALL OUR SOLI MEMBERS

We have a new Music Director!!! Greetings from your Soli Board and the Director Search Committee It is with great pleasure that we announce Ray Killian as our new Music Director. He has provided his credits and, lucky us, he is giving a recital this Sunday. We've included the flyer for the concert below. Many thanks goes to the Director Search Committee for their time and their energy. They formed a committe in about two weeks time, and just 48 days after they first meet they had the Soli members seated and holding music ready to interview the candidates. WOW!!! Now that's team work! The Director Search Committee Team Susan Hykes - Chair Terry Brubaker - Vice Chair Bonnie Linder - Recording Secretary Kais Olson Joyce Johnson Marti Booth June Hamm Alan and Eva Lind Harry Borowski Jill Patterson

A Note from Ray Killian “I am very excited that Soli Deo Gloria recognized what I felt on Monday night during the audition: a connection. When Juliette from the Board called me last night, I had just finished my recital dress rehearsal (with a big frog in my throat). By the end of the BOD meeting at First United Methodist, I was walking home in gratitude and with excitement. Thank you for sharing your talent. Our world needs the kind of beauty you are offering. Do not doubt for one moment the effect your singing has on people’s spirits. I look forward to hearing you all very soon…” Ray Killian Director of Music Director of Children's Ministry First Christian Church, Colorado Springs 719-633-8888 x209 The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts." -- C. S. Lewis

Ray's Curriculum Vitae Ray Killian received his degrees from Westminster Choir College (BMusEd ’84) and University of Illinois (MM ’89, EdD [ABD]). His vocal coaches include Martin Katz, Dalton Baldwin, John Wustman, Marvin Keenze and Ronald Hedlund. As a chorister, Ray has performed with the Westminster Choir, The Bridge Ensemble, The National Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys, Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, NY Choral Artists, and the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia. As a recitalist, Ray performed in Germany , Italy , France , Luxembourg , and throughout the Mid-Atlantic region here in the US . Since moving back to the US , Ray continued his education and award-winning work in public schools. Through the Levine School of Music in DC, Ray conceived and implemented a program of vocal music for the public schools. In the state of Arizona , Ray was nominated for Teacher of the Year 2007-2008. Ray has studied conducting and performed as soloist with Joseph Flummerfelt, Frauke Haasemann, Robert Shaw, Donald Nally, Don V Moses, Wilhelm Ehmann, and Sir David Willcocks. Ray has conducted community choirs in Europe and the Mid-Atlantic region. The Washington Post (Peal) noted Ray’s performances, “…they sang with color and choral felicity.” He has sung on two Grammy award-winning disks with the Westminster Choir, and Ray’s own groups have been recognized by arts organizations in DC (the Smithsonian, DC Mayor’s Arts Award, Organization of the Year, etc.) and Baltimore.