Thelma (Tommye) Leenhouts ’66


An organ concert at historic St. John’s Episcopal Church on Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., provided an unexpected opportunity for Thelma (Tommye) Leenhouts ’66, who lives in the city, and David Heinze ’17 of Providence, Rhode Island, to recall a unique Hope music connection. Alerted by the college that a Hope graduate would be featured, Tommye was in the audience while David was presenting a solo program on the St. John’s First Wednesday Concerts series. When she introduced herself following the performance, he immediately recognized her as having commissioned the college’s sesquicentennial anthem, “I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes (Psalm 121)” by Robert Shafer, which David had performed as a student during the Chapel Choir’s 2016 tour. David, who recently completed graduate studies in organ at the University of Cambridge,
is associate director of music at Grace Episcopal Church in Providence, where he plays and conducts for services, and assists in the training of the choristers and administration of the music program.

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