Tune Competition Winner Announced

A composition by Thomas Brown was selected to accompany a hymn text written by international hymn author Brian Wren. More than eighty entries from Australia, North America, Scotland, and the United Kingdom were submitted for the Tune Competition sponsored by Community of Christ Worship Ministries. “We were amazed by the high quality of the many entries and were pleased to have such a vast array from which to choose," said Jane Gardner, Worship Ministries coordinator.

Brown received a $100 prize and his tune, which has been named “SPES,” provides a wonderful marriage of music to Wren’s text, “Christ Leads.” Wren was commissioned to write a hymn text based on the vision and hopes of Community of Christ for Worship ‘01. “Christ Leads” to the “SPES” tune premiered at this event for worship planners and musicians, July 14-15. It was also introduced during a hymn festival at the annual conference of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. Both conferences were held at the Community of Christ Temple in Independence, Missouri.

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Brown recently returned to the Midwest after twenty-four years on the East Coast. He holds a bachelor of music degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City Conservatory of Music and a master of music from The Julliard School. Brown has performed around the world as an organist and pianist. He is currently the general manager for a pipe organ company, organist at the First Christian Church in Independence, Missouri, and is a staff organist at Community of Christ World Headquarters.

-Kendra Friend reporting