“Shaking the music: Geologist-turned-music director celebrates one year at CSUMC – The Vicksburg Post

Armed with a degree in geology and a minor in anthropology, MaryKate Cote left Louisiana State University prepared for a career in rocks and minerals. But music kept calling her, and she returned to school, graduating with a second degree in vocal performance from McNeese State University.

May will now mark one year since Cote moved to Vicksburg and took over the administration of the music program at Crawford Street United Methodist Church (CSUMC). The program includes not only an adult choir that performs every Sunday morning during the church service, but also a full bell ensemble and a children’s music ministry.

Cote took over the program from former music minister Kathy Malloch, whose long and distinguished career ended with her retirement in 2022. Cote credited her predecessor’s strong music program and said, “they were big shoes to fill, but I could no longer happy to participate in such a wonderful program. I got in and I was home.

Choosing hymns for congregational singing during regular services is central to her work in music ministry and can sometimes be challenging, Cote said. Pastor Tom Potter provides her with an outline of his planned messages and references to the scriptures that Cote reads and studies.

“We work really hard to make sure we’re consistent, and I make sure we’re telling a story from the start of the service to the end of the service that’s cohesive. This is really important to me. This is an important part of my ministry.”

Balancing congregational singing between more familiar hymns and introducing newer music can be difficult, but Cote said he understands the need for music as a vehicle for spiritual growth.

“For some people, music is the hook that draws them in.”

Under Cote’s direction, the adult choir presents numerous songs during Sunday morning services. This requires a lot of practice and dedication from the members, as well as the time Cote devotes to selecting music and guiding the choir members in rehearsal and performance. The choir is a tight-knit and friendly group, with a long-standing reputation for excellence, that Cote is happy to lead, she said.

The bell ensemble at CSUMC is a popular feature that appears regularly during Sunday morning services. Cote recently moved the bell choir’s performance area from the main floor of the sanctuary to the church’s balcony, where the sounds of the bells resonate from a high place.

“The bells presenting music during the service should add to the glory of God,” she said.

She previously directed the handbell choir at University United Methodist in Baton Rouge and attended the Handbell Musicians of America national workshop last summer. She said it was an amazing experience to see the “dedication, commitment and exemplary level of musicianship that the bell ringers possess.”

Another big part of music ministry involves children. The church recently started a program for children called Awesome Tuesdays. The church van picks up children from area schools and brings them back to CSUMC where they participate in various music programs.

“We do a little scripture-based lesson with them and work on the foundation of the music, like keeping a steady beat, some melodic exercises, bells and chimes, and singing some songs,” Cote said.

In addition to children’s Bible songs, Cote includes some of the music found in Sunday morning worship “so they can recognize it and participate more fully in the service. We not only teach children the Bible and the Holy Scriptures and the theology of the church. We train them to be the next generation of volunteers and worship leaders.”

Cote is currently working on a master’s degree in musicology from LSU. As far as musical styles go, Cote’s favorite is early choral music.

“I find it the most fun to perform,” she said. “I like Spanish and Italian music from the 1400s, 1500s.”

Her focus in music education centers on early music, specifically Spanish music.

“Spanish music in particular because I feel like it doesn’t get a lot of attention in academia. The focus is primarily on Italian, followed by German and French. (Spanish) was a niche I could explore academically.”

In addition to her role as music director at CSUMC, Cote is part of an a cappella choral group called BonaVox. The name is inspired by the Latin phrase for “beautiful voice”. BonaVox is a group of vocal musicians from South Louisiana committed to offering high quality musical performance for the enrichment of Louisiana and beyond. The group is a registered non-profit organization consisting of twelve men and women with extensive choral experience.

“We have a wide range of music, we’re good at folk-inspired music, Dolly Parton’s ‘Light of Clear Blue Morning’ that we did and some other folk songs. We’ve done everything from medieval renaissance to current living composers.”

This summer, the band will play a series of concerts in Louisiana and Mississippi, and Vicksburg is on the July 11-13 list.

Of his ministry at the United Methodist Church, Cote said, “I feel like I can go anywhere in the world to a United Methodist church and be welcomed and feel at home and have a place there.”

She said she encourages anyone who enjoys singing to consider joining the music program at CSUMC.

“Anyone is welcome to join us at any time, even for a short time.”

Cote can be reached through the church office at 601-636-5612 or by email at [email protected].