Music at First Congregational Church of Blue Hill has been a long standing tradition. When the present church was built in 1843, a pipe organ was installed and the church records recall the boys who pumped the air on Sundays. There have been a few organs since that time but the present organ, Ryder Organ, Opus 139, was installed in 2005.
Extremely gifted and accomplished music directors, like George Emlen, Mary Cheyney Gould, and Gerald Wheeler, have blessed the Sanctuary with their remarkable music ministry. With its wonderful acoustics, the Sanctuary is home for the Bagaduce Chorale, Blue Hill Bach, Blue Hill Concert Association, Vanderkay Summer Concert Series and many other community concert performances.
“God never intended this world to be
Without the sound of melody
He made the birds to have a song
Music helps us when things go wrong.It makes us forget the cares of the day
It can lift our minds with a brighter ray;
So when you play for many or few
Thank God for the talent He’s given to you.”
—Leila M. Blake, 1982, Two Hundred Years Plus Ten
Music Director
Ann Boudreaux played piano and organ in churches during her childhood and teen years, then again as a young adult, primarily as a substitute. Fast forward to the last 10 years, when more opportunities occurred to play in churches here in Maine. Most recently, Ann served as the Music Director at Deer Isle-Sunset Congregational Church.