MUSIC MINISTRY
Music is an integral part of the Church of the Good Shepherd. Our choir was organized by Sandra Anderson in early 2010. It is an all-volunteer group of about fifteen members who enjoy singing, have a deep commitment to the worship life of our church, and is composed of singers of all ages.
Welcome Michael Yannette, Good Shepherd’s new Director of Music
Michael Yannette brings a rich and varied background to all of his artistic endeavors. As a professional pianist and accompanist, music
educator, music director, composer, arranger, actor, church musician and playwright, Mr. Yannette has music directed and performed in professional, collegiate and community theater nationwide. He wrote, produced and starred in the title role of An Evening with George Gershwin, a one-man show about the life of the great composer, which played to rave reviews. Mr. Yannette is currently finishing work on his second play entitled Fantasia on Mysterium: The Epic Theatrical Recital about the life of Russian composer/pianist Alexander Scriabin featuring a choreography of live piano performance, storytelling, immersive visuals and aromas.
As an educator, Mr. Yannette recently retired from 34 years of teaching music, a career in which he was twice honored as Teacher of the Year at Grandview Preparatory School in Boca Raton, FL and Cherokee Central Schools in Cherokee, NC. He was also the 33rd recipient of the Frell Owle Award for distinguished service to children and families of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). The Cherokee Chamber Singers from Cherokee High School under his direction recently performed world premiere performances of William Britelle’s Si Otsedoha (We’re Still Here), a symphonic work with mostly Cherokee text based on the writings of the CCS students with both the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra and the Charlotte Symphony. Yannette is currently performing and teaching as a music director, vocal coach and accompanist at Western Carolina University.
Mr. Yannette has always enjoyed his work with choirs. He is the co-founder and previous director of the Men’s Chorus of the Young Singers of the Palm Beaches, a nationally recognized community choral organization in West Palm Beach, Fl. He has performed at various American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) state, regional and national conventions and was a frequent accompanist for Florida All-State Choirs. Mr. Yannette has served as Music Director/Organist/Pianist at many houses of worship including First Methodist Church of Sylva, Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Tacoma, WA, The Unity Church of Delray Beach, The Lost Tree Chapel in North Palm Beach, FL and Temple Beth El in Jupiter, Fl.
Mr. Yannette is a graduate of Florida State University where he received various honors including the Ernst von Dohnanyi Prize, the winner of both the FSU Concerto Competition and the Florida Collegiate Artist Competition and was also named the 1986 FSU Presser Scholar.
As an educator, Mr. Yannette recently retired from 34 years of teaching music, a career in which he was twice honored as Teacher of the Year at Grandview Preparatory School in Boca Raton, FL and Cherokee Central Schools in Cherokee, NC. He was also the 33rd recipient of the Frell Owle Award for distinguished service to children and families of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). The Cherokee Chamber Singers from Cherokee High School under his direction recently performed world premiere performances of William Britelle’s Si Otsedoha (We’re Still Here), a symphonic work with mostly Cherokee text based on the writings of the CCS students with both the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra and the Charlotte Symphony. Yannette is currently performing and teaching as a music director, vocal coach and accompanist at Western Carolina University.
Mr. Yannette has always enjoyed his work with choirs. He is the co-founder and previous director of the Men’s Chorus of the Young Singers of the Palm Beaches, a nationally recognized community choral organization in West Palm Beach, Fl. He has performed at various American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) state, regional and national conventions and was a frequent accompanist for Florida All-State Choirs. Mr. Yannette has served as Music Director/Organist/Pianist at many houses of worship including First Methodist Church of Sylva, Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Tacoma, WA, The Unity Church of Delray Beach, The Lost Tree Chapel in North Palm Beach, FL and Temple Beth El in Jupiter, Fl.
Mr. Yannette is a graduate of Florida State University where he received various honors including the Ernst von Dohnanyi Prize, the winner of both the FSU Concerto Competition and the Florida Collegiate Artist Competition and was also named the 1986 FSU Presser Scholar.