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Ron Hamilton
1950 - 2023 Author of "O Rejoice in the Lord" in Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) In honor and memory of Ron ("Patch the Pirate") Hamilton (1950-2023), the American Christian musician, lyricist, composer, and president and owner of Majesty Music, who passed away last week on April 19, the posts this week will be about him.
After finishing high school, in 1969 Ron went on to Bob Jones University (BJU) in Greenville, SC, where he received a BA in Church Music in 1973, followed by an MA in Church Music Composition. While at BJU Ron met Shelly Garlock at vesper choir, directed by her father, Dr. Frank Garlock; it was "love at first sight" and six years later, on May 31, 1975, they were married. They have five children: Jonathan, Tara, Alyssa, Megan, and Jason. Immediately, they began working at Majesty Music, a Christian music publishing house founded by Dr. Garlock. (Sources: Patch the Pirate Facebook page, Wikipedia)
One of Ron Hamilton's songs that depicts well his life is "Faithful Men":
I am looking to Jesus, giving all in the race,
Pressing upward to gain the heavenly prize.
Faithful men are my witness, who have struggled and died;
And they watch from the grandstand in the skies.
(Refrain)
Faithful men have gone before us,
Faithful men who fight and stand;
I want to follow in their footsteps,
Guided by those faithful men.
Jacob joined with the faithful;
Joseph followed behind;
Moses ran with the mighty men of old.
There were David and Daniel; then came Peter and Paul.
Now they chant as they run on streets of gold.
Refrain
(Majesty Hymns, p. 380)
--from an obituary on the Facebook group "Hymns and Hymnwriters"
Ron Hamilton
Ronald Alan Matthews
b. 1952 Composer of "WILMINGTON" in Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) Born: 1952, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Matthews began his musical studies at age four, on piano. At age eight, he began trumpet study with the former first chair of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Matthews began his organ studies at the age 12, and took his first church organist position at age 14. Having received a Philadelphia Board of Education music scholarship, he did his undergraduate work in Church Music and Organ at Westminster Choir College, where he graduated magna cum laude and received both the Senior Class Conducting Award and the Christian Leadership Award. During this time, he represented the Princeton area college community at the annual Presidential Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC.
Matthews received the Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Temple University. At the age of 22, he was asked to conduct the Jerusalem Chamber Orchestra for a recording project in Tel Aviv, Israel. He also conducted the national tour of this project throughout major cities in the United States the following year.
In 1976, at age 23, Matthews was invited to join the faculty of Nyack College in Nyack, New York as the Director of Choral Activities. In 1981, he received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Combs College of Music in Composition with an emphasis in Orchestral Conducting. Twice, he was the guest conductor at the annual performance of Messiah at West Point Chapel, featuring a combined community chorus of 300 singers with professional orchestra. In 1980, Matthews accepted the post of Organist-Music Director of Calvary Presbyterian Church in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. In 2005, he accepted the call of Pastor of Worship Arts at Church of the Saviour in Wayne, Pennsylvania, where he was presiding as of 2008. From 1982-92, Matthews was the Chair of the Department of Music at Philadelphia Biblical University. Since 1992, Matthews has been Professor of Music and Director of Music Programs at Eastern University. He is the Chair of the Fine and Performing Arts Division and Chair of the Music Department. In addition to his university and church posts, Matthews conducts the Jubilate Deo Chorale and Orchestra of New Jersey, a 75-voice auditioned chorale and a 65-piece professional orchestra, performing sacred and classical choral and orchestral music. He is a commissioned and published composer, and is active in coaching, accompanying and chamber music.
Matthews was a Thomas F. Staley Foundation lecturer/artist, and serves on several professional and denominational boards and task forces. He performs regularly with his brother, Rev. Dr. Gary Matthews, in concerts and workshops throughout the United States and Canada. They have released six recordings of historic and contemporary church music.
Matthews holds Choir Master and Colleague certifications with the American Guild of Organists and completed a four-year faculty development grant for jazz study. He is listed in numerous international and national civic and professional Who’s Who publications.
http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/m/a/t/matthews_ra.htm
Ronald Alan Matthews
