Thomas
R Fortier tfort1956@aol.com
Clio
/ Michigan / 48420
SUMMARY
Church Music Director / Organist / Choir Director / Handbell
Choir Director / Orchestra Conductor / Concert Organist / Vocalist. 30+ years experience with both “hands on” and
“management” experience in all aspects of church music ministry. Skilled teacher and trainer in chorus, piano,
organ, voice, and midi-orchestration.
EXPERIENCE
Bethany
United Methodist Church, Clio MI 1989 - 2009
Director of Music, Organist, Choir
Director, Handbell Choir Director, Youth Choir Director, and Orchestra Director.
*Proposed, and built new music rehearsal room, office suite.
*Participated in various committees from both a “leadership” and “layman”
prospective.
*Secured three octaves of handbells, two octaves of choir chimes. Organized two
bell choirs.
*Organized and direct the church orchestra.
*Secured Orff and rhythm instruments for the youth music ministry program.
*Secured a portable midi keyboard for both church and community ministry.
*Sequenced and midi-orchestrated over 300 octavos and 18 cantata accompaniments.
*Established a bi-annual church concert series.
*Led and participated in various forms of community ministry.
*Supervise children and youth music ministry volunteers.
*Drama coach for church actor’s group.
*Tune the church’s pipe organ
Delphi
Corporation, Troy MI
1978 – 2008
Sr. Corporate Advance Quality Engineer
* 20 years experience
hourly (assembly, inspection, floor inspection, quality auditing, engineering
technician).
* 10 years experience
salaried Quality Engineer, Reliability Supervisor, Supplier Quality Engineer,
Advance Supplier Quality Engineer, and Corporate Supplier Quality Engineer).
*Expert in risk assessment, process control and conformance, process compliance
auditing, particulate contamination control.
*Retired December 1, 2008.
Grand Blanc United Methodist
Church, Grand Blanc, MI. 1988 – 1989
Organist / Handbell choir member
*Hired to temporarily
replace the organist during a one year leave.
*Performed in the “Performance Major’s Recital.”
Farnumwood
Presbyterian Church, Burton MI 1978 - 1988
Organist, Children’s Choir Director,
Choir Director, Handbell Choir Director
*Proposed and secured
two octaves of handbells. Organized adult
Handbell choir
*Proposed and secured replacement of aging electronic organ.
*Instituted “Music Sunday,” annual fund raising concerts.
*Organized and led the music portion of a multi-church “Presbyterian
Celebration”
*Organized and led music for summer church services at Crossroads Village.
First Presbyterian Church, Ramsey
NJ
1977 – 1978
Organist
Pleasantville United Church of Christ, Chalfont, PA
1975 - 1976
Organist
ADDITIONAL
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Theater organist for the
Temple Theater, Saginaw
Past President and Vice-President of the Flint Theatre Organ Club
Past President and Vice-President of the Temple Theater Organ Club
Former board member of the Detroit Theater Organ Society
Former board member of the Friends of For-mar Foundation
Organ instructor, Flint School of the Performing Arts
Piano and Organ teacher, Olmstead School of Music
EDUCATION
AND TRAINING
MSQ degree candidate Graduate
School of Industrial Technology, Eastern Michigan University.
BA in Organ Performance from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ
DISTINCTIONS
Participated in
Grammy nominated Columbia recording of Haydn’s “Lord Nelson Mass” with
Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic.
Performed in chorus under
the direction of Leonard Bernstein, Robert Shaw, Michael Tilson-Thomas, Pierre
Boulez, Rafael Kubelik, Kevin Cole, Isaiah Jackson, Ransom Wilson.
Member of the Carolyn Mawby Chorale
Michigan All-State Honors Choir
AFFILIATIONS
American Guild of
Organists
American Theater Organ Society
Friends of the Wanamaker Organ
