Eileen Guenther is associate professor of church music at Wesley Theological Seminary. She teaches music and worship courses, directs the chapel choir, co-directs the chapel services and serves as cirector of the summer school program.
Dr. Guenther has served as visiting lecturer at Africa University in Zimbabwe. In May 2007 she was part of the Global Praise team that taught music and worship in Uganda for representatives from the five countries that make up the East Africa Conference of the United Methodist Church.
She is a national and international organ recitalist and has performed in recordings with Etherea Records, the US Air Force Orchestra, Vista Records (London) and Foundry Records. As an extension of her music ministry, she leads workshops nationally for musical and denominational organizations.
Dr. Guenther has served the American Guild of Organists in a variety of capacities from National Councillor for Organizational Concerns to National Vice President. For many years she was the host of an award-winning program, "The Royal Instrument," heard on Washington's primary classical music station at that time, WGMS.
In June 2007, Dr. Guenther concluded a distinguished career at Foundry United Methodist Church, where she had served as minister of music and liturgy for many years. The Foundry Choir appeared at General Conference twice and at the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference on many occasions. They sang at The White House numerous times and were described by The Washington Post as "one of Washington's best choruses." With repertoire ranging from J. S. Bach to Washington, D.C. composer Thomas Beveridge, these singers presented a Concert for Life for many years, raising over $600,000 for organizations serving those living with HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa and in the Washington area.
Courses Taught:
- Chapel Choir
- Music Skills for the Local Church
- Exploring the Hymnal
- Sacred Music of the World
- Masterpieces of Western Sacred Music
- Sacred Music of America
- Worship Today (team-taught with Lucy Hogan)
- Songs of Zion (team-taught with William B. McClain)
- Worship and the Arts (team-taught with Laurence Hull Stookey)
Education:
- University of Kansas, BA, English
- University of Kansas, BM, Organ
- The Catholic University of America, MA, Musicology
- The Catholic University of America, DMA, Organ
Publications:
- Articles on clergy-musician teamwork and world music
- Contributor to The New Grove, Encyclopedia of Music
