Dr. Chelsea Vaught

Greetings! My name is Chelsea Vaught and I am thrilled to be the Director of Music here at First Presbyterian Church.

I am originally from Henderson, Nebraska (a small town of 986 located 60 miles west of Lincoln).  My undergraduate degree is from Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas and is in piano and organ performance and music education.  I received a Master of Music degree from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, in church music with an emphasis in organ performance and carillon performance.  Recently, in May 2012, I received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree also in church music with an empahsis in organ performance from the University of Kansas.  My final project was a lecture recital on "The Infuence of Gospel Music in William Bolcom's Gospel Preludes.  Major organ teachers include Michael Bauer, James Higdon and Roseann Penner Kaufman.

Over the years I have participated in several organ competitions (including First Pres in 2010!), which have taken me all over the United States and even to Russia in 2011.  I also have performed organ and carillon recitals across the United States, most notably at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.

Outside of everything music, I enjoy watching sports- specifically college football and basketball.  Given where i'm originally from and where I went to school, you can probably figure out who my favorite teams are.  I also enjoy spending time with family and friends and scrapbooking.

As the Director of Music at First Presbyterian, I am excited to have the opportunity to take the wonderful musical foundation that has been laid and build on it.  As Psalm 95: 1-2 says, "O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noice to him with songs of praise!"

-Chelsea