Adam Samuels has been Director of Music at St Paul UMC Abilene since 2007. His primary duties are focused on overseeing the music ensembles of the church, conducting the Chancel Choir and Chancel Ringers, and providing leadership in the weekly worship services. Prior to St Paul, Adam was Minister of Music at First UMC, Weatherford, Texas. He has also served churches in Cleburne and Corsicana; he has previously taught Choir at Cleburne Middle School.
Adam first lived in Abilene was while completing his Bachelor of Music in Church Music at McMurry University. While at McMurry, Adam was active in the Music Department serving as the founding president of the McMurry Student Chapter of the American Choral Director’s Association, President of Chanters (McMurry’s touring choir), and participating in faculty search committees. His first experience with handbells was with the McMurry Handbell Ensemble in 1996. Since McMurry, Adam has studied at SMU and TCU, and completed extensive continuing education at Baylor University.
Adam is married to Holly, a handbell ringer since she was 8 years old and former Clarinet in the Texas Tech Band. Holly teaches 4th grade at Austin Elementary in Abilene. They have two daughters: Rigby and Hazel, both in school at Austin. Outside of family, community arts organizations remain a passion for Adam. In the Fort Worth area, Adam sang with Schola Cantorum of Texas. In Abilene, Adam has served on the Board of Directors for the Abilene Opera Association (2008-2011). He is currently the West Texas Representative on the Area 9 (Texas-Oklahoma) Board of Directors of the Handbell Musicians of America (previously AGEHR).
Adam is in his first season as Conductor of the Classical Youth Chorus and Classical Youth Chorale for Chorus Abilene. Prior to being a conductor for Chorus Abilene, Mr. Samuels served on the Board of Directors (2009-2013), occasionally serving as a guest conductor for the Adult Chorus. He remains an active volunteer and advocate for Arts Education in Public Schools and is a member of American Choral Directors Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts, YouthCue, and Choristers Guild.