The Official Website of Robert Bigley: April 2008

Monday, April 14, 2008

On Choosing Worship Songs

I am taking advantage of being sick today by listening to sermons from my favorite preachers. Listening to one by Alistair Begg right now from Psalm 32. In teaching on v. 7 "..you surround me with shouts (songs) of deliverance" he quotes Alec Motyer's book "Look to the Rock: An Old Testament Background to Our Understanding of Christ." It drives home the weight of responsibility that our young worship leaders will be carrying as they graduate from LBC and enter their careers. Motyer says:

"When truth gets into a creed or a hymn-book, it becomes the confident possession of the whole church."

Begg then adds:
"As a church sings, so a church will live."

Wow.

One of the most important habits that I developed during my internship under Dan Perrin at CBC, was going through new worship songs with a fine tooth comb so as to root out "loose" doctrine. Begg's sermon underscores the importance of that process.

As we choose songs for worship, we are steering the very creed of our congregation!

Sobering stuff.

Back to blowing my nose.

Rob

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Lancaster Bible College Chamber Singers

The LBC Chamber Singers

Rob started this group in the Fall of 2007. They perform a wide variety of sacred a cappella music. Currently, their repertoire ranges from the Renaissance to the 21st Century - from World Music to Motets. For more information, visit LBC's website www.lbc.edu.

Robert Bigley

Dr. Robert Bigley enjoys a multi-faceted career that seems to broaden with each new season of life. He is currently Executive Director of the Trust Performing Arts Center and Director of Choral and Vocal Studies at Lancaster Bible College where he conducts the College Chorale, Women's Chorus, and Chamber Singers. His ensembles frequently collaborate with other musical groups including modern Irish hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty, Dove Award-winning artist Michael Card, international recording artist Declan O’Rourke, the Grammy-nominated ensemble New York Polyphony, as well as the Lancaster Symphony, Opera Lancaster, and even an appearance on the Christmas album of the Grammy-nominated metalcore band August Burns Red. Under his direction, the LBC Choirs have toured throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States, as well as Spain, Ireland, and China.

Previously, Dr. Bigley was Professor of Music at Shoreline Community College in Seattle, WA. His Shoreline ensembles were selected to perform for two Washington Music Educators Association All-State conferences and toured extensively with concerts throughout the Pacific Northwest as well as Spain, Ireland, California, and in New York's Carnegie Hall. Prior to moving to Seattle he was the Music Director of the Greater Miami Youth Symphony and taught choir, band, and orchestra at the Ransom Everglades School, one of Florida's most respected college preparatory schools.

As an actor/singer, Bigley has performed with the historic Fulton Theatre (Lancaster), Servant Stage (Lancaster), PRiMA Theatre (Lancaster), Taproot Theatre Company (Seattle), Florida Grand Opera (Miami), countless choirs and vocal ensembles, television and radio ads, as well as several industrial shows. Dr. Bigley holds degrees from University of Washington, the Eastman School of Music, and the University of Miami, where he conducted the academic premiere of Into the Woods. Dr. Bigley lives in Lancaster City, PA with his lovely wife Kendra (a professional pianist and fellow Eastman grad), and their three children.