(photo by Bill Fraley)

Shawn Gingrich was appointed Director of Music Ministry of our church on November 29, 1999. He has received his undergraduate education at Lebanon Valley College, Annville, where he received the Bachelor of Science in Music Education and the Bachelor of Music in Sacred Music, studying organ with Pierce Getz. He received his graduate education at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, Princeton, NJ where he received the Master of Music in Sacred Music, studying organ with Joan Lippincott. In 2011 he received the Doctorate in Worship Studies (DWS) degree at the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies in Orange Park, Fl.

Shawn has served Emmanuel United Church of Christ, Hanover as Minister of Music for more than six years, served St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Sellersville for two years during graduate school, served St. Lukes Episcopal Church, Lebanon for more than three years during college, and served Winterstown United Methodist Church, his home church, for more than four years. 

In addition to his work at the church, Shawn also teaches organ and directs the Concert Handbell Choir at Messiah College in Grantham, PA. He also founded and leads the Hershey Handbell Ensemble, an auditioned community handbell group.

Shawn and his wife Laura have four children: Peter, Sarah, Christian, and Aaron.

E-Mail: shawn.gingrich@firstumchershey.org

Our Music Ministry Web Page