April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
MUSIC
Her career goals are in new key
For four years, cantors and choir members sang to music on compact discs; now they have a new music director: Rebecca Feuerbach, who is back in the Albany Diocese after a two-year commitment with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Omak, Washington.
"We're getting ready for the Advent season and Christmas," she said. "It's a little hectic!"
Connection
Ms. Feuerbach earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics but minored in both music and computer science. When she returned from Washington earlier this year, she took up temporary residence with her family in Selkirk. They are life-long parishioners of St. Patrick's in Ravena. The pastor there, Rev. Vincent Ciotoli, told the pastor at St. John's, Rev. John Molyn, about her musical skills."Music has always been a part of my life and the life of our family," she explained. She began playing piano when she was just two. During her childhood and teenage years, she sang in the choir at her parish and at Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk school.
Her skills eventually led her to award-winning performances with the New York State School Music Association and the Empire State Youth Orchestra. While in college, she held the position of lead soprano in a student choir.
Directions
While in college, Ms. Feuerbach anticipated working in mathematics after graduation. Then she joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and was assigned to a Native American reservation school. She began to re-think her career priorities."The Jesuit program is an excellent, world-wide organization where college students and graduates can participate in helping the less fortunate in many different areas," she said. "I was part of a group of graduates that tutored grade school kids in reading."
She also was involved in the fine arts program as an aide; during her second year, she taught some piano and worked with the children's choir. The volunteers also taught religion classes.
Making a difference
"The Jesuits have four values that guide their program: simplicity, community, spirituality and social justice," she explained. "The challenge for us as volunteers was to ask 'What am I doing?' and 'Does it make a difference, and if so, how and why?'"In deciding her own future, Ms. Feuerbach said that she wanted to work at something that makes her happy and that would make a difference to those around her.
"There never really was a question in my mind after that," she said. "It's music."
Composition
Right now, the new director is "getting to know parishioners, what they have done musically in the past here and what their musical preferences are. So far, everyone has been very welcoming, very supportive. It's a very nice parish family."My primary focus right now is looking at this as a ministry. I love music and all it has to offer. It's a wonderful way to express how we feel, what is in our hearts.
"What I hope to accomplish is to draw people into singing and, from there, into a deeper, fuller participation in liturgy. I hope they will be able to participate in a positive way, a way that brings them closer to God."
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