Barry Wenger has been appointed organist and bell choir director at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest, Illinois, beginning August 15. Wenger previously served as principal organist at First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple, and as organist and director of worship and music at Central United Methodist Church, Kansas City, where he directed six choirs (choral and bell) and played the 1967 Casavant, Opus 2731, which Casavant refurbished under his guidance. He was also a staff organist at the Community of Christ Headquarters in Independence, Missouri, for 13 years, playing the 114-rank Aeolian-Skinner organ and the 102-rank Casavant tracker organ.
Wenger received a Doctor of Musical Arts in organ performance degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance in 2003, a Master of Music in organ performance from the University of North Dakota in 1995, a Bachelor of Music in organ and piano performance, and a Bachelor of Science in Education for music education–choral from Minot State University in 1993.
