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On September 25, 2016 FPC honored music director Julie Carter for 25 years of service on our staff. In August 1991, Julie had finished her doctorate course work at Arizona State. Back home in Fresno, she was working on her dissertation and looking for a choir to direct part time. FPC was in immediate need of a choir director following the resignation of the prior director. Worship elder Brian Roberts remembered Julie as they had both taught at Clovis High, and the connection was made. She became interim director of the Chancel Choir with no intention of a long term commitment on her part. She was hired as the regular director in January 1992. God had other plans as she is now the longest-serving current staff member.
Julie lives in Fresno with her husband Michael, a real estate appraiser. They have two sons. Sean graduated from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo in June and is now working as an electrical engineer in the Denver area. Joshua just started his freshman year at Purdue in Indiana.
Over the years Julie has become a true music minister, pastoring the choir and other worship leaders. She has provided stability in volatile times, and pizzazz for the worship services, particularly the traditional service. She helps the church have fun. Some of you will remember the time an anthem was so catchy that Ed Deatherage, who was probably over 80 at the time, led a conga line down the center aisle during the service!
Julie is a superb conductor who gets the most out of the choir, and a follower of Jesus who is interested in glorifying him through worship. This is true away from FPC, too. She named the elite women’s chorale she started and continues to direct Soli Deo Gloria, which means “To God alone be glory.” Previous pastor Jamie Evans told the choir at a retreat once that as he was interviewing he asked about the music ministry. He had seen a number of churches where the clashing egos among the worship leaders made them the most difficult people in the church to work with. He was somewhat surprised as well as delighted to find out that FPC wasn’t like that. In large part, this is due to Julie’s focus on glorifying God.
Julie also enjoys teaching – she has been an adjunct professor at Fresno State and Fresno Pacific, and has started a successful worship intern program at FPC. She enjoys conducting orchestras as well – she directs the annual Messiah Sing-Along (which is coming up November 27 @ FPC). Instrumentalists appreciate her as much as singers – the same people come back over and over to work with her at the Sing-Along, on Christmas Eve, and at other times during the year. Julie is also being recognized for her conducting by the local music teachers. She is directing the high school honor choir for the Fresno-Madera Counties Music Educators Association. (The concert is at 3:00 on Oct. 30 in the Shaghoian concert hall at Clovis North High School.)
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Most importantly, Julie has loved the choir members. She has made the choir a fellowship and prayer group for one another that has prayed many a member through life crises.
FPC has benefited from Julie’s presence, leadership and love for 25 years, and enjoyed celebrating her on September 25. She says she has a lot of music left in her, so she plans to continue indefinitely. We look forward to glorifying God with her through music and worship for years to come!
by long time choir member Barb Grunwald