United Church on the Green
270 Temple St., New Haven
Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025
10 a.m., with coffee and snacks available at 9:30 a.m.
Concert organist Nathaniel Gumbs (“Nat”) has performed at many venues in the U.S.A. and abroad. He is Director of Chapel Music at Yale University where he coordinates music for three worshiping communities: the University Church in Battell Chapel, and at Yale Divinity School in both Marquand Chapel and Berkeley Divinity School.
Nat has had many years of diverse experience in church music. He grew up at Trinity Baptist Church in the Bronx, and by the time he was in high school had already developed a love of leading congregational singing. As an undergraduate music major at the Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia, he held part-time positions in Lutheran, Episcopal, and Presbyterian churches. In 2011, he received the Master of Music degree from Yale University (YSM and ISM), where he also served as organist for Marquand Chapel. Since graduating from Yale, he has worked as Director of Music and Arts at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC, where he oversees 350-400 volunteer musicians and staff in four choirs and other ensembles, and also serves as Sunday organist. He is a frequent guest musician at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, and is organist and clinician for the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference. In 2012, he organized music for plenary sessions of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC. Last year he was named in the “Top 20 Under 30” by Diapason Magazine.
Last summer, Nat presented several works from the King of Kings collection of organ works by African American composers together with James Abbington, the editor of the four volume series, at the national convention of the American Guild of Organists held in San Francisco. Our sub-dean was able to attend this wonderful session, and this February 15, 2025 workshop here in New Haven is the result of some conversation and planning after the session at the convention. We hope you can join us for this close look at this exciting and eclectic music.