Music
Text Box: Jo Hagen   Choir Director        While attending high school in Clearwater, Fl., Jo (ne’ Gruber) Hagen was called upon to substitute for a State Concert vocalist who became ill.  That night, for the performance in Tampa, a scout from the Metropolitan Opera was in attendance, and offered Jo a full scholarship in Vocal Music to Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Fl.  This was underwritten by Eleanor Vanderbilt Whitney of Long Island, N.Y.  Of course, the scholarship was accepted, and Jo spent the next four years studying vocal music, piano, solfeggio and theory.  While in the Concert Choir for FSC, Jo toured for 4 seasons in the U.S. and met and performed with many celebrities, singing with the Fred Waring and Robert Shaw Chorales.  After graduating from FSC with her B.A. degree in Vocal Music and a Minor in Foreign Languages, Jo went to New York City, where she understudied and starred in many musical presentations “Off-Broadway” and in Summer Stock theaters.        Returning home to Clearwater, she was lead Alto soloist for the Episcopal Church of the Ascension , where she had been a member for many years.  Meeting another ‘cradle’ Episcopalian, Burt Hagen, Jo married “her Marine” in 1956, and had 2 children.  They were also members of the Church of the Ascension, with the rest of her extended family. Jo went on to study another artistic venue – Floral Designing, and received her Master’s in that subject in 1988.  She designed the altar flowers for SOTH  for many years, allocating that labor of love to Peggy Seward in 2006.      Burt and Jo moved to Citrus County in 1990, becoming Charter Members of SOTH.  Although caring for her paraplegic husband was demanding, she set about directing and building the choir at Shepherd of the Hills.  In 1994 it started with only 4 members plus Jo and Lois Colley, the pianist; the choir now has 23 members, and they love to “Make a Joyful Noise unto the Lord”.      An invitation to join the choir is extended to all who love to sing God’s praises! Text Box: Bill Kinley   Organist  Bill began learning to play the organ in his home town of Pearl River, N.Y., while in Junior High School in 1955.  He had previously received four years of piano study from a teacher who was also the St. Stephen's Episcopal church organist.  Since finding a replacement  organist was difficult at times, the piano teacher began to introduce Bill to the organ, with the intent he would be a future substitute.  Bill enjoyed the challenge of organ playing, and became the church organist while in high school, after his teacher retired. He continued to study the organ under various teachers from New York City during high school.        Bill went to Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute in Troy, N.Y. to study engineering, but continued to play the organ at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Albany, N.Y.  This was a wonderful experience since the church had an expansive musical program, providing Fall & Spring Concerts, as well as choir anthems and organ pieces every Sunday.  During the summer, when Bill returned home from RPI, he continued to be a substitute, playing services in many different churches.        After graduating from RPI, Bill joined GE's Aircraft Engine Group, and worked in Lynn, Mass. north of Boston.  He returned to organ studies while being the Village Church organist in Nahant, Ma., a position he maintained for over 30 years.  Upon retirement, he and his wife, Nancy, moved to Canterbury Lake Estates in Hernando, Fl.  He is now the organist for Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church in Lecanto.  Bill has given several concerts for Christmas and for "Light Shine"  at SOTH and we hope and pray he continues to do so for a long time!