William Ness
Accompaniest
William Ness was formerly the Minister of Music & Arts at First Baptist Church in Worcester. At First Baptist he conducted two singing choirs and two bell choirs from 2001 to 2015.. He retired from First Baptist Church in June 2015 and was given the title Minister of Music Emeritus on his last Sunday there. Most recently for two choral seasons he was Interim Director of Music/Organist at The First Church of Christ in Hartford, Connecticut ending in May 2017. He is now the Guest Musician at The First Church of Nashua, New Hampshire serving while their director is in Europe and serves as accompanist for the Salisbury Singers.
William Ness has two degrees from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and has done further study at the University of Iowa. His organ teachers have been Jennie Satre, Robert Speed, Robert Clark, Robert Glasgow, and Delbert Disselhorst. While at the University of Michigan he won the Graduate Concerto Competition in 1971. Mr. Ness taught at Andrews University from 1979 to 1982 as a sabbatical replacement for C. Warren Becker. Following that position he and his wife were Co-Directors of Music at First Presbyterian Church, Ottumwa, Iowa where they chaired the National Undergraduate Organ CompetitionUpon moving to Massachusetts he assumed the position of Minister of Music at The College Church at Atlantic Union College, South Lancaster in fall 1987. Other churches he served during this time were Village Congregational of Whitinsville and First Baptist of Lexington. Mr. Ness has performed extensively in the Worcester area as soloist and accompanist to several choral organizations. In October 2016 he was chosen to play the opening recital of the festival week celebrating the historic 108 rank 1933 Kimball organ at the Worcester Auditorium which had not been heard in recital for nearly a quarter century. He teaches organ at Pakachoag Community Music School of Greater Worcester and privately.