Joining the staff at FLUMC in the fall of 2000, Dr. Wagoner faithfully serves as the music director and organist, striving to provide uplifting service music each week.

Biography

Dr. Wagoner works weekly with our Chancel Choir, which sings for each Sunday service and our Handbell Choir, which performs the first Sunday of each month from September through May. During the summer months, Dr. Wagoner organizes special music and adds special music during our morning worship services. He plans exhilarating and creative music programs for special holiday services and conducts and accompanies our annual Christmas Concert and Christmas Cantata in December.

Earning his Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education from Boston University in 2017, Dr. Russell Wagoner also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Ball State University and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music. He is Director of Choral Activities at Tappan Zee High School in New York, where he conducts four choral ensembles. His Concert Choir has performed a concert tour of London, as well as was invited to perform in Vienna and Paris. The Concert Choir has performed four times at Carnegie Hall and took first place at the Music in the Parks Six Flags Great Adventure choral competition in the May of 2023.

His holiday choral arrangements have been premiered the past ten years as his choirs annually open for the Rockettes at the Radio City Music Hall “Christmas Spectacular each December. He teaching duties include: Interactive Music (music theory with a practical application in composition, piano & guitar studies), the Singing Actor course, choral conducting, and conducting the “Ringtones” Handbell Choir, Acafellas & Bella Acapella ensemble, Concert Choir & Chorale.  Outside of his daily work schedule, Dr. Wagoner maintains a select voice and piano studio; however, his favorite role
is being Dad to his son and favorite baseball player, Rhys.