BELFAST — The First Church in Belfast, United Church of Christ, has introduced their new music director, Larry Philbrick. He fills the roles of both organist and choir director for the church.

Philbrick grew up in North Hornell, New York, starting piano lessons at age eight. As a boy, he loved listening to the organ music at his family's church, United Presbyterian Church of Hornell, a congregation incredibly blessed with many outstanding musicians. He would also play on an old pump organ his grandparents had. And at age 12 they gave him an organ of his own and he soon began to teach himself how to play.

In his high school years he would occasionally play for the annual Children's Service in his church and took a job playing the organ at a local United Methodist Church, where he really began to hone his skills.

His high school choral director was Don Besig, the renowned church anthem writer, and a fellow choir member was lyricist, Nancy Price, who worked with Besig on a number of choral pieces.

He would return to his home church and take the Organist and Choir Accompanist positions there for many years and later at churches in Alfred, New York. He moved to Montville in 2013 and has played in a number of local churches before coming to First Church.

Philbrick has a son, Ian who attended Mt. View High School and is now attending Alfred University in Alfred, NY.

Philbrick invites anyone who is interested in singing with the First Church choir to contact him by email at larryphilbrick@gmail.com. Rehearsals are Sunday mornings from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., before the 10 a.m. worship service.

The church is also looking for singers to help with the Advent Vespers concert to be held Sunday, Dec. 2, at 3:30 p.m. Rehearsals for that will be held Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 1, 8, 15 and 29.

The First Church is an Open and Affirming Congregation, ADA Accessible, located at 104 Church Street in Belfast.

For more information, call the church office at 338-2282 or check out the church on Facebook @FirstChurchinBelfastUCC or at www.firstchurchinbelfast.org.

“We welcome everyone to come and share with us as we seek to live in the Spirit of God's love,” according to the church, in a news release.