A love letter from the choir to Ron Pearson
Most of us know Ron Pearson as a very gifted organist and musical director, a person of great humility and a devoted family man. But those of us fortunate enough to have sung in the Chancel Choir have been allowed glimpses of him from “behind the organ bench.” There are stories and memories, too numerous to recount, of his decades of service to First Church’s Music Ministry. A few choir members have offered to share some of their favorites.
Sally Stewart, a choir member who predates Ron’s beginnings at First Church, recalls when she and her late husband Bill, had Ron, “A nice young man,” to dinner a few times when he first came to Tulsa in 1974. Their daughter, Kathy, was preparing for her piano audition for college admission and played for Ron. He was supportive and encouraging, and Kathy went on to earn her degree, teach piano and is now a valued member of the First Church staff, as well as a colleague to Ron. Sally also shared a time when Ron unexpectedly designated her as his page turner during the postlude. She describes how she nervously stepped down into the organ pit, sat down on the bench, and unknowingly put a foot on one of the big foot pedals. Ron quietly called the situation to her attention. Sally closes with, “Guess what? Ron didn't ask me to be a page turner ever again!”
A sweet memory is shared by longtime choir member, Judith Land. “The year that Ron was hired as director of Music Ministries in 1995 was the same year that Ron’s middle daughter and my daughter were in a dance class together. By that time, I had known Ron for many years, so we spent many Monday evenings, during our daughters’ rehearsal time, chatting about life. Ron kept me up to date on his progress through the interview process. One Monday evening, Ron told me he had learned that the Search Committee had recommended him for the directorship. He, of course, was excited about the committee’s decision and the opportunity afforded him. He was a bit anxious, however, about how the choir would respond. I was certain the choir would be happy but my words didn’t do much to assuage his nerves.
Jim Miller came into rehearsal that Wednesday night to tell us of the hiring decision. Ron stepped out into the hall while Jim addressed the choir. When Jim told us Ron was to have ‘interim’ removed from his title and would be the new director of Music Ministries, the choir erupted into cheers and applause. I never asked Ron his thoughts of the choir’s response, but I suspect it brought a tear to the stoic Minnesotan’s eyes.”
In 2016, some months after the passing of Ron’s beloved brother Jim, the First Church Chancel Choir commissioned Ron’s friend, talented organist and composer Michael Bedford, to compose an anthem in Jim’s memory. The piece was entitled, “The New Creation,” and was based upon a favorite Pearson family Scripture – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NRSV). “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”
Veteran choir member, Lewis Taggart, remembers how choir friend and First Baptist Church organist, Bruce Wilkin, arranged for the choir to meet in secret on a Saturday morning at First Baptist Church to learn the piece. The plan was to perform the piece as a surprise to Ron at the end of the choir’s Spring Concert. As the concert concluded, Dr. Miller stood and invited Michael forward to, “Take the conductor’s baton from Ron.” Ron was taken completely by surprise and did not easily yield the baton. However, under the persuasion of Dr. Miller, Joanne and the choir, he reluctantly took his seat. The choir, conducted by Michael and accompanied by Bruce, then presented this offering of love to Ron and his family. The choir learned that evening that we could, in fact, sing with tears in our eyes.
One of my personal favorite memories happened several years ago when Ron was away from choir for a number of weeks due to medical reasons. Summer choir was being masterfully led by Gretchen Bashforth. Guest organists graciously sat in on Sundays, but we all really missed Ron, both as our friend and our gifted leader. As our annual Fall Retreat approached, we knew that the best way to honor Ron was by maintaining and carrying forward the tradition of musical excellence at First Church. So, as usual, we gathered in the choir room on a Saturday morning to preview the upcoming Fall Concert material and Sunday anthems. As we worked our way through the material, in walked Ron and Joanne. Most of us had not seen him for weeks, and we were a bit taken aback by his pale coloring and lack of his typical energy. He sat down by the piano and listened as we sang. Shortly before lunch, we noted a bit of foot tapping. Ron joined us for lunch and enjoyed visiting with friends and colleagues. As we resumed rehearsing, he, once again, sat near the piano. Gretchen and Bruce Wilkin, who was our accompanist that day, led us back into the music. After a few pieces, along with more foot tapping, the maestro could no longer resist being back in the action. Ron got up, “gently nudged” Bruce over on the piano bench and began playing. His color and strength seemed to improve, but the main thing we all noticed was the return of the person we knew and loved. The transformation we saw in that short period of time was heartwarming. Ron was back, in more ways than one. We knew we were missing our dear friend and director, and that it just wasn’t “choir” without him. But what we were very touched to see was that Ron wasn’t Ron without choir, either.
Ron is a man of great humor, especially puns. Once engaged, he can pun, and counter-pun, unlike most anyone else. Sometimes, choir rehearsals go down a short-lived rabbit hole when he gets on a roll. But, given that he times rehearsals to allot an exact number of minutes and seconds for each piece, these diversions are usually fairly brief. Ron also is an expert in the theological meanings and the musical histories of most everything we sing, along with deep knowledge of the composers. On the rare occasions when a rehearsal might end a bit early, we often hold our collective breath, because we know we are likely to be educated during those extra minutes. He has also been known to use creative license with musical terms such as “approximento,” “bombastissimo” and “infinitissimo,” and to encourage us to share his love of languages. We await the day when we will be learning an anthem in Esperanto or Portuguese.
The congregation knows how talented Ron is thanks to his Sunday morning preludes and postludes, as well as his annual concerts. But what people outside the Music Ministry may not fully comprehend is the vast repertoire of music Ron carries around in his head. He can often transition seamlessly from one composition to another, as he demonstrated to the Chancel Choir on a Sunday morning of G.F. Handel’s birthday. Ron accompanied us in the singing of “Happy Birthday” to Handel then, without missing a beat, began to play the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah.
Just like with parents, Ron also has “the look.” Things that elicit “the look” might include, obviously, the singing of wrong notes, not cutting off at the right time, singing through a rest, etc. But the sternest look is reserved for the “Okie-fied” pronunciation of certain words, particularly those containing the “ou,” such as “shout,” “found,” “count,” etc. While “the look” is rarely directed at one individual, when it is aimed in your general direction, you can’t help but wonder … “is it me?” Needless to say, being on the receiving end is something to be avoided at all costs.
And finally, relatively new choir member, Laura Stockbridge shared this beautiful reason why singing in the Chancel Choir is so important to her. “I joined the choir in 2021. The music ministry is, in large part, why we joined First Church. It didn’t take long to understand just how talented of a musician Ron is. Being able to watch him play his improvisational postludes from the choir’s view is a delight. The congregation doesn’t get to see the joyful smiles and occasional smirks that accompany his intense focus. During choir rehearsals, I appreciate that he often reminds us of the contextual importance of what we are singing and how it will align with other elements of worship. A talented musician will fill a room with beautiful sounds, surely. A talented musician, conducted by the Holy Spirit and playing to honor and praise our God, fills a room with hearts imprinted by the Spirit and changed forever. Ron is the latter. It is an absolute joy to sing under his direction and watch him play.”
It is a great privilege to be a part of a Music Ministry led by one with the gifts and talents of Ron Pearson. But it is an even higher honor to be guided by someone with whom we share such admiration and affection.
Congratulations, Ron, and thanks for letting us be part of your journey.
About the author: Carol Elrod is a longtime member of First Church. She has two grown children, Griffin and Stephanie; a daughter-in-love, Paige; and a precious granddaughter, Bryce. Carol sings with the Chancel Choir, is a member of the Guild of Intercessors, and has served as an Elder and a Deacon.