After five wonderful years with Stephen Gamboa as Director of Music, the congregation bid him farewell on August 24. Stephen is now at an extremely selective education program “for students who wish to study their craft at the highest level.” Tears of joy for Stephen’s talent, good fortune, and bright future mixed with tears of sadness. Fortunately, Stephen made sure that the church will experience a smooth transition by recommending his very talented friend Fadi Deeb, who we welcomed the following Sunday. All is well in our music ministry.

While all of the music that Stephen played on his farewell Sunday seemed extra special, his interpretation of J.S.Bach’s Fugue in Eb major (St. Anne), which he played as the postlude, was exquisite. Most everyone remained seated in the sanctuary to listen to the postlude, which Bruce Johnson later characterized as “Stephen’s gift of one last concert for us.”

The opus that includes this piece is considered “Bach’s most significant and extensive work for the organ, containing some of his musically most complex and technically most demanding compositions for the organ.” The fugue itself is said to have “the grandest ending to any fugue in all of music.”

“I played this piece for Easter as well, and because I really liked it, I wanted to improve upon it,” Stephen said.

J.S. Bach himself would have been proud!

Members of the choir spoke tributes to Stephen, Staff Parish Relations Team Leader Linda Orth presented gifts from the congregation, and everyone celebrated Stephen at a special Fellowship Hour. The congregation’s gifts were a cash “offering of love” and a unique mixed media plaque with GAMBOA imposed over a drawing of a harpsichord keyboard. The plaque was handcrafted and framed by local artist Donna Snow of SNOW Original Artworks.

The medium is aluminum,” Snow explained. “I hand draw directly on the aluminum with a ball point pen. I overlay the art with black paint and buff it out. All ideas come from my head and heart.”

The following was inscribed on the back of the plaque: “Thank you for the joy and beauty that you have given us. May God always bless you and your music ministry. With love from your NSUMC Family.”