Hello, my name is Michael Flynn. In August of 2023, my wife, Barb, her mother, Phyllis, our little dog, Harriet, and the cat, Ralphie, packed up our covered wagon and hauled ourselves to California to live closer to Phyllis’ family, and to share in her care.
Up until then, I had been the music minister at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Parsippany, New Jersey (yes, a real place) since 2003. There I performed all the duties of the music minister, from selecting all music in cooperation with the vicar, to rehearsing and presenting adult choir, children’s choir, occasional bell choir, instrumental soloists and vocalists, arranging music for special performances, composing new pieces, and fronting and directing the rock band Any Given Sunday, the congregation’s own home grown quartet.
During this span of years, I also acted as music director at two different Spanish language episcopal churches in northern New Jersey, and as the Spanish language musician and cantor at the Diocese of Newark special services.
My music education is from private lessons, experience, and Invitation. Invitation being a gift, I believe, from God, through the everyday experience of our world, and it is my only job, and privilege to turn my attention back to the source of that invitation, whenever I notice it. In my position as music director, or teacher, or mentor, I have seen the same invitation appear in others, and felt a duty to provide, as best I am able, a safe and welcoming environment (and a little nudging) for others to step forward and lift their voice, or their instrument, or their ears, and let the spirit move them.
In my other life I have been a chemical engineer, computer programmer and analyst, picture framer, art installer, piano teacher and vocal coach, and a student and teacher of the Ishayas’ Ascension, a meditational practice.
Funny story, ask me about the time I almost got arrested for playing the piano, in my own church, in the dark...
I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you!
