Pastor Hans E. Becklin
One of the most fear-inducing, exciting, yet bittersweet tasks of my still-new ministry here at Trinity has been the search for a new musician. It’s fear-inducing because our standards at Trinity are so high, and our deep mix of musical excellence and Lutheran piety call for a unique leader who embodies this special richness. It’s exciting because it gives us the opportunity to continue our traditions into a new era, teaching the song and faith of the Church to a generation yet unborn. Simultaneously, it’s bittersweet as it means saying goodbye to Karen, who has left her mark on Trinity, its song, and its people in so many ways.
This work began almost immediately after I arrived, with the review and revision of the Minister of Music’s job description. This was a time of sifting: of discerning what was written down but not essential from that which was essential but unwritten.
Soon after, the Vestry appointed a search committee to work with me in this endeavor. I am so grateful to the members who agreed to spend so many evenings with me—in the Bard House for Zoom interviews and meetings, in the Peanut Bar as we welcomed our finalists, and in our historic sanctuary as we sang led by our finalists. They deserve your thanks, too: Hannah Long, Jessica Manning, Rob Speece, Donna Osborne, Beth Welz, and Ralph Unruh (who served as our capable chair). Until he left for his doctoral studies in Maryland, Tom Hofmann also served on the committee.
Through this process I learned a few things. First, our music-making is about so much more than just playing the right notes artfully. Our musician needs to be a teacher, a leader, a caregiver, and an example of Christian faith. Many otherwise-gifted people faltered in one or a few of these areas.
Second, I learned that, among the group of people who do exhibit all these gifts, most of them are longing for a musically-gifted congregation like ours. Time after time, we heard stories of amazing leaders struggling in congregations that were indifferent to great music and liturgy and their impact on our walk with Jesus.
Finally, I learned in a deeper way what a gift it has been to plan, teach, and make music alongside Karen during these months. Her knowledge, passion, and technical skill equals or surpasses that of many masters and doctors.
Dr. Cameron Wentz
Much seeking and discernment have led to a wonderful result! Dr. Cameron Wentz has accepted this position and will be joining us at Trinity as our next Cantor and Minister of Music. Cameron came to faith as a young man in Lutheran congregations in and around Hanover, Pa. and has served the church in many ways while also studying in many world-class institutions: Westminster Choir College, Johns Hopkins University, King’s College, London, and the University of Maryland.
As a church musician, he has led programs as Cantor at Christ Lutheran Church in Gettysburg and as Director of Music for St. John the Divine in London. He currently serves as Associate Director of Music at the Reformed Church of Bronxville outside of New York City, where he especially focuses on liturgical leadership and children’s musical formation.
As a teacher and composer, he has helped form the next generation of church musicians as an ear training instructor for the National Children’s Chorus and has received commissions both for sacred and secular works. He especially loves composing for his own ensembles.
Cameron is passionate about the unique liturgy and music of the Lutheran Church and applied to this position in order to serve the church that formed him and continues to most feed him in his Christian vocation. He and his husband Jorge, a native of Portugal, currently live in Yonkers but look forward to relocating to Berks County and being a part of our vibrant community.
-Pastor Hans
