Donny Monk graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice. He also attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for training in church music.
He toured extensively with a number of groups including the Continental Singers, New Hope, Sound of Joy, and Donny Monk and Friends as well as solo concert tours and events. He has performed in all 48 contiguous states and Hawaii and in the countries of England, Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, West Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, South Korea, and New Zealand.
Donny has served as minister of music in a number of churches and has served as a clinician in numerous conferences and workshops. While living in Nashville, Tennessee he performed on recordings of various publishers for choral demo recordings and as a background vocalist for artists such as Sandi Patty, Steve Green, Amy Grant, and Andy Griffith. He has original songs and choral arrangements published by Lorenz Music, Lexicon Music, Word, Benson, and Genevox. He has recorded six solo albums.
Sparrow Music published his first children’s book entitled, “Silent Night – A Mouse Tale” that he co-wrote with Betsy Hernandez. He has released an additional children’s book entitled “Three Wise Mice.”
His professional affiliations include the American Guild of Organists (AGO) and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).
You may follow him by visiting www.DonnyMonk.com
You are invited to follow his blog and receive his newsletter.
Allen Organs of the Emerald Coast is happy to welcome Matt Hoffman as our new sales representative. Matt is a gifted and experienced church organist and has a solid understanding of church music both from the instrumental and choral aspects.
He has been through the process himself of guiding his church in the purchase of a new Allen organ with more than one of the churches where he has served. This, along with his active role in church music, gives him great insight to work with churches in their selection of a new organ.
He is currently serving at St. Ann Catholic Church in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Prior to joining the staff at St. Ann, Matt was the Director of Liturgical music at several different churches in Oregon. He holds an Organist Certificate from the National Association of Pastoral Musicians and is currently working to complete the Colleague Examination of the American Guild of Organists. He studied music at Willamette University, in Salem, Oregon, and his teachers have included Dr. Paul Klemme (organ) and Dr. Wallace Long (choral conducting). In addition to his time at Willamette University, he completed a lengthy apprenticeship at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, in Salem, Oregon. During that time, he had the opportunity to conduct adult and children’s choirs, handbell choirs, and serve as the Associate Organist. His most recent appointment was at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Klamath Falls, Oregon where he served for over 13 years.
We are very happy to have Matt on our team. His experience and talent will not only be an asset to our company but also to many churches in our area.
Lois Henry has an extensive background as composer, pianist (solo and collaborative), organist, coach and conductor. She has been a staple in Florida’s classical music scene both as a performer and educator. Lois spent 17 years as Professor of Music at Northwest Florida State College, where she served in many capacities, including conducting the Northwest Florida Symphony Chorale and Belle Voci (the college’s select women’s ensemble), taught piano, voice, and music theory, and presented numerous solo piano recitals. Lois also served as interim conductor of the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra.
As organist, Lois has performed solo recitals as well as with orchestras. She is presently the music director at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Shalimar, Florida, where she joyfully plays the church’s new Allen organ. In November of 2019 she played the dedicatory concert on that instrument, showcasing its magnificent sound lls. Last year she was commissioned to write a song cycle for solo opera singers and piano based on the historic story of Viola Edwards, a Black nurse who opened a hospital in Pensacola in 1922. The work premiered at the University of West Florida in November 2019 and was performed at Northwest Florida State College in February 2020. In 2021 she completed BELLESONGS, a commissioned song cycle for high voice and piano that premiered at Florida State University.
Lois moved to Florida from the Boston, Massachusetts area. In her 20+ years there, she taught music at Eastern Nazarene College and served as pianist/organist for Boston’s Chorus pro Musica, also frequently acting as the group’s chorusmaster. She had the opportunity to perform on many of Boston’s organs, including the E.G & G. Hook tracker in the church where she was music director.
Allen Organs of the Emerald Coast is fortunate to have Lois as a part of our expanding team. She brings a wealth of experience as an organist, church musician and composer. She is now available for consultations on new Allen Organs as well as new Allen consoles for existing pipe organs. She is also available for organ concerts in your church or school.