Geneva church music director celebrates 30 years

Scott Stevenson, director of music at the United Methodist Church of Geneva, is celebrating 30 years of music ministry at the church this fall.

The occasion will be marked by "30 Years with Scott Stevenson: A Celebration of Thanks" at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5, in the sanctuary, 211 Hamilton St.

Stevenson, a graduate of Northern Illinois University who had also studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, began working as assistant organist at the church in 1987. A year later the full-time position opened, and Stevenson stepped up and has been there since.

During those 30 years, Stevenson has seen the choir grow from 16 to more than 30 voices. The music department is one of the largest ministries of the church, and there are several singers in the choir who were singing when Stevenson started at UMCG.

Under Stevenson's direction, the choir has performed a cantata every Christmas. Stevenson has composed six Christmas cantatas: "Signs of Christmas," which they will perform again this year at 9 and 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 10; "People Look East; A Joyful Noise" (jazz); "Dulcimer Carols" (written the year the congregation moved into their new sanctuary and didn't yet have an organ); "A Quiet Christmas;" and "Waiting - An Advent Cantata."

Stevenson also wrote "Requiem 9/11," written in 2011 for the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, reprised in 2016. In May, the Stevenson Plays Brubeck concert drew a crowd. Stevenson said he "has always loved Brubeck's music, and frequently plays with drummer Tim Mulvenna, who has that style down." His favorite Brubeck tune is "Blue Rondo a La Turk."

Stevenson's responsibilities at the church include overseeing the entire music department, playing the organ and piano for worship services, choosing hymns, directing two handbell choirs, directing the Gospel Choir, and composing and arranging. From 2006 to 2016, he was also involved in the church's I-Witness Emerging Worship, which featured contemporary praise and other genres of music.

In the mid 1990s, Stevenson was part of the committee to select a new organ. They chose the Schantz company of Orville, Ohio, who actually removed 8 ranks from the old organ, which had been made here in Geneva, took them to their factory, revoiced the pipes, and incorporated them into the new organ installed in 2000.

The maestro has also done a lot of composing and performing for Chicago's St. Patrick's Church's Deck the Hall and Siamsa na nGael concert at Symphony Center. He has played accordion for 20 years in the strange/country group Dick Smith; with Electric Dirt at Simon's in Chicago; at the Hideout and other locations in Chicago; and recently with Robbie Fulks and Michael McDermott. He has served as accompanist and composer-in-residence for St. Charles Singers, who will premiere a newly commissioned work of his on their Candlelight Carols concert in December.

Visit www.genevaumc.org.