Highland Presbyterian Church Welcomes Susan Bates As Our New Organist

Dear Friends,

The Organist Search Committee is thrilled to introduce Susan Bates as our new Organist for Highland Presbyterian Church. Susan has played frequently with us at Highland, and we are delighted to make her position with us formal!

Susan first came to Winston-Salem to study music at Salem College. She cherishes her mentoring there from John and Margaret Mueller and Margaret Sandresky. After graduate work at Yale University, where she served as Assistant University Organist and Instructor of Undergraduate Organ, she returned to Winston-Salem and in the following years was blessed to serve as organist at several area churches, including Home Moravian Church, West Market St. UMC in Greensboro, and Centenary UMC. For many years Susan has enjoyed teaching organ and harpsichord at Wake Forest as well as playing for many university services there. She has performed at St. Thomas Episcopal Church (NYC), St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square (Washington, DC), American Guild of Organists (AGO) regional conventions, Eastern Music Festival organ galas, and area organ performance series. Her performances have been heard on the NPR program Pipedreams, and she has dedicated several area pipe organs, including the Dobson-Rosales at West Market Church. Susan was most honored to premiere Dan Locklair’s Concerto for Organ and to participate, with her late husband James, in worship at the Vatican in Rome, Italy. Having played at Highland as a substitute organist in recent years she has experienced a true heart calling to be in music ministry there with Chris Gilliam and the wonderful ministers for this beautiful congregation. In her own words, “I have been surprised by joy to enter a new season of ministry and to embrace this lovely church with the witness of faith through music and mission for the glory of God.”

Susan will begin her position with us next week, with her first Sunday in this new role being June 23. Please join us in welcoming her after worship on June 23 to celebrate her during our Lemonade in the Shade time.

With Gratitude and Excitement,

The Director of Music Search Committee

Josh Bragg (chair), Judy Bass, Shelly Beard Cobb, and Sara Smith