Director of Music and the Arts
Dale T. Rogers
Director of Music and the Arts
Mr. Rogers has served as the director of music and the arts at Westminster since 1986. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, where he was the first recipient of the Mecherle Organ Scholar award; he later served on the faculty of Wesleyan’s School of Music. He earned a certificate from the Royal School of Church Music in Croydon, England, and received a Master’s degree as a member of the first graduating class of the Yale University Institute of Sacred Music.
His teachers have included Paul Koch, David Mitchell, and Lillian McCord; David Gehrenbeck at Illinois Wesleyan University; Michael Schneider, organist of Cologne Cathedral; Christopher Herrick, deputy organist of Westminster Abbey; and Gerre Hancock, organist of St. Thomas Church, New York.
As an organist, Dale has performed with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and the Columbus Pro Musica, as well as in solo recitals. Prior to his appointment at Westminster, Dale was for ten years the director of music and liturgical arts at the Eero Saarinen-designed North Christian Church in Columbus, Indiana.
Dale serves as dean of the Springfield Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and has been program chair for the Association of Disciple Musicians four times. He is a founding member of the Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfield where he serves as program chair and has served on the board of directors for the Dana-Thomas House Foundation in Springfield.
Contact Dale Rogers using the Contact form or email him at drogers@wpcspi.org
Director of Music and the Arts
Mr. Rogers has served as the director of music and the arts at Westminster since 1986. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, where he was the first recipient of the Mecherle Organ Scholar award; he later served on the faculty of Wesleyan’s School of Music. He earned a certificate from the Royal School of Church Music in Croydon, England, and received a Master’s degree as a member of the first graduating class of the Yale University Institute of Sacred Music.
His teachers have included Paul Koch, David Mitchell, and Lillian McCord; David Gehrenbeck at Illinois Wesleyan University; Michael Schneider, organist of Cologne Cathedral; Christopher Herrick, deputy organist of Westminster Abbey; and Gerre Hancock, organist of St. Thomas Church, New York.
As an organist, Dale has performed with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and the Columbus Pro Musica, as well as in solo recitals. Prior to his appointment at Westminster, Dale was for ten years the director of music and liturgical arts at the Eero Saarinen-designed North Christian Church in Columbus, Indiana.
Dale serves as dean of the Springfield Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and has been program chair for the Association of Disciple Musicians four times. He is a founding member of the Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfield where he serves as program chair and has served on the board of directors for the Dana-Thomas House Foundation in Springfield.
Contact Dale Rogers using the Contact form or email him at drogers@wpcspi.org
Deb Watts Elliott
Saturday Worship Pianist and Music Coordinator
Deb Watts Elliott plays the piano and helps coordinate special music for the Saturday service at Westminster. Deb is a legal assistant at Sorling Northrup, as well as organist and music coordinator at Laurel United Methodist Church. She loves spending time with her children, Tara Petty and Gabe Cowan. Deb enjoys her membership in the American Guild of Organists where she serves as the chapter’s sub-dean as well as serving as pianist and vocal director for area musical theater productions.
Contact Deb Watts Elliott using the Contact form or email her at deb.watts@live.com
Saturday Worship Pianist and Music Coordinator
Deb Watts Elliott plays the piano and helps coordinate special music for the Saturday service at Westminster. Deb is a legal assistant at Sorling Northrup, as well as organist and music coordinator at Laurel United Methodist Church. She loves spending time with her children, Tara Petty and Gabe Cowan. Deb enjoys her membership in the American Guild of Organists where she serves as the chapter’s sub-dean as well as serving as pianist and vocal director for area musical theater productions.
Contact Deb Watts Elliott using the Contact form or email her at deb.watts@live.com