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The Team

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Corbin Sturch

Director of Music Ministry & Organist

Corbin Sturch is the Director of Music and Organist of First Presbyterian Church of Galveston. Under his direction the Music Ministries have found a new vision and mission, with education and excellence at their core. With the implementation of the Arts & Ideas series First Presbyterian started to make its name as an arts destination, bringing some of the nations best talent to Galveston's oldest church - further supported by the addition of the Choral Scholars program to provide top-tier musical education and leadership for free to the local community.  Under the direction of Corbin and with the help and vision of the Scholars, long time members, and steering committees of the church the Chancel Choir of First Presbyterian has started to gain national attention as an ensemble known for their musical excellence and diverse repertoire. Tours are in the works both nationally and internationally.

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At the bench, Corbin is known for his improvisation skills and creative and sympathetic interpretations of hymn tunes, with special emphasis given to Spirituals and early American hymn tunes.

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As a leader Corbin is recognized for his energy and collaborative approach. Under his leadership the Music programs have seen a unheard of increase donations to support their missions and ministries in the church and local community with donations increasing from a few hundred dollars a year to tens of thousands in the last fiscal cycle. This is complimented by the implementation of a grant writing team to help support First Presbyterian's musical outreach. Outside of First Presbyterian, Corbin serves on the board of several local non-profits and serves on and is the chair of a few national committees directly related to his work.

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Outside of First Presbyterian, Corbin is the Head of Piano Technology at the University of Houston where he leads the Piano Technology Program; and is widely in demand locally and nationally as a technician and clinician. As a keyboardist he has studied under Dr. Sharon Gorman, Dr. Julie Cheek, Tom Bara, Andrea Steward, and Bethany Walker.  Corbin is a Registered Piano Technician, Fellow of the Fraternity of St. Cecilia, and an alumni of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

409-762-8638 x:105

Jackson Okland

Associate Director of Music Ministry

Jackson Okland is a three-time UIL and two-time TMEA region (band and orchestra) pianist, violinist, and organist who currently studies at University of Houston, Moores School of Music towards a bachelor’s of music in composition. Since he started piano lessons in 2017, Jackson has played for multiple musicals, plays, nursing homes, recitals, concerts, churches, personal venues, wineries, and farmers markets. While entertaining the general crowd, he is also classically trained and continues to perform in various solo recitals, studio recitals and ensemble recitals. Despite his piano proficiency, Jackson strives and peruses composition, writing pieces for solo piano, piano ensembles, choral groups and strings. Music is his passion and wants to share his with as many people as he can.

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Sage Haven

Music Associate | Soprano Scholar

Sage Haven is a Soprano member of our schola, and is thrilled to continue their work here at first pres. Sage first debut their music Career at GHNATS where they placed in the winners bracket for musical theater at 14. (They will later go on to win again at 21) At 15 they started exploring the opera scene more seriously, and landed a role in HGO's 2019 production of "El Niño" by John Adam's. This production was sadly cut short due to the COVID 19 outbreak, but left a long standing love of the art form with them none the less. After a brief hiatus, Sage began exploring the world of song writing, folk, and jazz. Diving in with the Space City Big Band, and the League City Folk Association, they truly spread their wings as a solo artist. Now a-days you can find them enjoying a good book in their garden between events, or playing tabletop games with their fiance David.

Milan McCray

Soprano Scholar

Milan McCray (soprano) is a 27 year old Fort Worth, Texas native who currently resides in
Houston, Texas. Milan attended Chapman University in Orange, California, where she received a
Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance. Milan’s notable awards include NAACP’s 2015 first
place winner in the classical voice division of the organization’s Afro Academic, Cultural,

Technological, and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO), 2017 first place winner of Schloss-
Mirabell’s vocal competition (Salzburg, Austria), and 2017 4th place winner of the American

Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) Meistersinger vocal competition (Graz, Austria). Recently,
Milan placed second in the 2024 International Singing Competition of Lyrical Voices of Africa
hosted by Africa Lyric’s Opera in Paris, France and is scheduled to go on a winner’s tour in
2025.

Her previous roles include Principessa in Giacomo Puccini’s ‘Suor Angelica’, Florence in
Benjamin Britten’s ‘Albert Herring’, and many more features in larger works.
Milan is currently a teaching artist at Houston Grand Opera and Artist in Residence at
Heights Baptist Temple.

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Brianna Yanez

Alto Scholar

Brianna Yanez is an Alto member of our scholar choir and is excited to be a part of it. Brianna first started their music career in Texas City ISD in 5th grade. She grew up in a musical family and loved every bit of it. Her mom inspired her to become the vocalist she is today. Brianna grew up singing in different churches in their praise and worship bands and enjoyed it so much. In high school, Brianna was a part of the Texas City High School Master Chorale and the Soundsations Show Choir Group. In her junior year, Soundsations competed at Capital City competition in Austin and took home the title of Grand Champions. In her senior year, they competed at Lone Star competition in Fort Worth and she was awarded Best Female Soloist. Brianna is full of wonders for music. She enjoys listening to all genres of music but mostly RNB and Worship music. Brianna is very excited to continue her education in music and cannot wait to see where life takes her.

River Dickman

Alto Scholar

Bio coming soon!

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Isaac Recio

Tenor Scholar

Isaac Recio is a tenor currently studying at the University of Houston. Prior to his enrollment at UH, he studied at Lonestar College for two years. Isaac has performed around the city with Lonestar Lyric, The Houston Saengerbund, Kingwood Summer Opera program, and two operas at UH!

Zaccai Campos

Tenor Scholar

Bio coming soon!

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Anthony Nevitt

Baritone Scholar

Bio coming soon!

David Ewald

Bass Scholar

David is our Bass scholar, and has loved developing his vocal talent here at the First Presbyterian Church of Galveston. While traditionally he is a euphonium player, he started branching into vocal performance and piano performance during college. He has fallen in love with vocal music, and enjoys the emotional expression of the music we do here at First Pres Galveston. 

David enjoys jiu-jitsu and playing tabletop games in his free time, as well as exploring local nature and the city with his fiance Sage.

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