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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 6, 2018
NASHVILLE, Tennessee: The Commission on the General Conference is pleased to announce Raymond Trapp has been selected as the Worship and Music Director for the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference.
In addition to his role at the 2019 event, Trapp was selected to serve in the same capacity for General Conference 2020, with responsibility for developing the overall worship and music programming and for providing musical leadership at both events. Trapp also is director of music at Vanderveer Park United Methodist Church in Brooklyn, New York, and has served as music director for New York Annual Conference sessions for the past six years.
"Raymond's ability to lead brings those around him to a spiritual place," said Sara Hotchkiss, Business Manager of the United Methodist General Conference. "His gift in this area reminds me of John Wesley's instructions in 'Select Hymns,' in which the founder of Methodism exhorts that 'Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing…'"
As Director of Music and Organist at Vanderveer Park UMC, Trapp conducts four choirs, selects and arranges music for all musical productions and annual choral concerts, and developed and implemented a concert series consisting of eight musical performances for the year. His work for the New York Annual Conference has included selecting choral repertoire for the conference choir, as well as working with the Worship Committee in planning all worship services.
"When I consider this honor, a favorite verse comes to mind: 'We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves," said Trapp, referencing 2 Corinthians 4:7 (New Living Translation).
Trapp has been a music educator, creating and teaching curriculum for grades Kindergarten through 8th grade. He also has developed and supervised all aspects of music ministry at St. Mark's United Methodist Church when he served as Music Director and Organist at the Brooklyn church. Trapp received a Master's Degree in Sacred Music, Choral Conducting from Westminster Choir College and has also studied at Juilliard School in New York City.
About General Conference
General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church. The assembly meets at the beginning of each quadrennium to consider revisions to church law, as well as adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues. It also approves plans and budgets for church-wide programs for the next four years. General Conference 2020 will take place May 5-15, 2020, at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis. A special session of the General Conference has been called for February 23-26, 2019, and will meet at The Dome of the America's Center in St. Louis.
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