Dover First Moravian Church to honor Randy Gibbs for 50 years of music ministry

When Randall Gibbs was 4 years old, his father traded a shotgun and a load of coal for a piano, hauled it home in a dump truck and introduced it to his son. Gerald Gibbs wanted Randy to play the piano, and his wish came true. Today Gibbs still plays piano and organ and conducts the choir as director of music at Dover First Moravian Church.

On Sunday, Oct. 26, the church will celebrate 50 years of Gibbs’ service. Between his first introduction to the piano and this milestone, he has built an extraordinary career.

Born in New Philadelphia to Gerald and Lola Gibbs, he graduated from local schools, earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Malone College and a master’s degree in educational administration from Ashland University.

Gibbs began his early music studies in second grade with Emmett Blind, continued for six years with Lou Weaver and later studied under Mae Jackson. He credits Sarah Gaston Riel, his teacher between sophomore and senior years of high school, as his greatest inspiration. “It was with her I began to study the organ,” Gibbs said.

In college Gibbs minored in organ, piano, percussion and voice. He joined the band and played timpani, gong and chimes.

He combined his music and administrative training during his career, serving as vocal music teacher, choral director, lighting and sound supervisor, assistant principal and assistant superintendent in the New Philadelphia schools. He has been organist and junior choir master at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Canton, member of the professional group Handbells Columbus, show organist and music director for Trumpet in the Land, assistant conductor at Moravian Music Festivals, co-founder of the Quaker Foundation and director of testing for Quaker Digital Academy.

His honors include New Philadelphia Teacher of the Year and the Moravian Music Foundation James Salzwedel Music Award. He is a member of the American Guild of Organists, Guild of English Handbell Ringers and the Ohio Farm Bureau.

Gibbs and his wife, Nancy, have known each other since childhood. He recalled, “My grandparents and four others cleaned the Goshen Miner’s Hall and turned it into a Nazarene Church. As often happens, there was a split, and my family joined the Baptist Church in New Philadelphia. It just so happened that Nancy Kern also belonged there. We were about 5 and 6 years old. We started spending time together when we were in the seventh and eighth grades, and here we are, still happily together all these years later.”

Gibbs said his love for Moravian music continues to guide his work. “This music has not been preserved to be saved, but to be shared with those who listen. I feel compelled to introduce and share with others the beauty, depth and joy it brings. The happiest times I have spent during my career are those spent with people I have worked with who share the joy of beautiful music. I think I will continue to work with music until I no longer exist. I don’t have time to retire.”

Colleagues and choir members spoke of his influence. “Randy is a saint. No matter what, he always has time for you. He makes singing a joy and brings out the best in his singers,” said Jan Shanklin. Part-time pastor and choir member Denny Rohn said, “Randy doesn’t play the notes, he sings the words to hymns with his fingers.” Longtime choir member Sue Ellen Hoffman said, “Every one of us knows how lucky we are to have Randy as our director. He doesn’t just have us sing, he gives us background, history, reasons for the song. For some of us, this is the only real music training we have ever had. We wouldn’t trade him for the world. We only hope he can outlast us so that others who haven’t met him yet will be able to have the wonderful experience of working with him.”

Gibbs continues to invite singers from the community to join the choir. The Oct. 26 celebration will include a brief recognition during 10 a.m. worship, with light refreshments in the fellowship hall continuing until 2 p.m.