St. Pete First has an array of worship and music offered each week as we seek to glorify God through music, words, and art.
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Throughout the year we host special events, and have the gift of a world class organ.
Each week the church has four distinct services ranging from traditional, contemporary, and modern evening.
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KennMann
Senior Worship Director
Kenn Mann began his musical journey by playing on a tiny toy piano given to him by his parents at Christmas when he was only 3 years old. The very day he received this gift, he began playing hymns and worship songs to his parent’s amazement. Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, this southern gentleman has led in Worship and written songs alongside such singers and musicians as Babbie Mason, Charles Billingsley, Vernon Whaley, Derric Johnson and David T. Clydesdale as well as world renowned leaders such as Henry Blackaby and Kay Arthur.
Kenn has written over 50 Choral Anthems for such companies Brentwood/Benson Music, Word Music, Lorenz Publishing and Lillenas Publishing. He has also written four (4) Choral Musicals; (1) “No More Walls”, a Youth Musical produced by Veggie Tales writer, Steven V. Taylor, (2) “A New Heart For Christmas”, An Adult Christmas Musical created with Disneyworld’s Derric Johnson and Liberty University’s Dean of Music, Vernon Whaley. (3) “Make Us One”, An Adult Worship Musical, which won the Gospel Music Association’s prestigious Dove Award for “Musical Of The Year” and finally, (4) “After The Cross”, An Adult Easter Musical which premiered at Cypress Gardens, Winter Haven, Florida.
Kenn received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Mississippi College, Clinton, Mississippi and went on to receive his Master’s Degree in Church Music from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has hosted the WTIS Music Talk Show, “Tampa Bay’s House of Praise” for two years and now serves as the Minister of Worship & Music at First United Methodist Church in Saint Petersburg, Florida for the past seven years
Derek
Weston
Director of Traditional Muis and Worship
My name is Derek Weston, and I am the Director of Traditional Music and Worship at First United Methodist Church of St. Petersburg. I was also recently appointed as the Assistant Principal and Program Director for the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School, having previously served as the Director of Choral Studies at PCCA for the past thirteen years. Previously, I have held the positions of Director of Music for St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Visiting Director of Choral Activities for Eckerd College, Artistic Director of Una Voce: The Florida Men’s Chorale, Conductor of the Richey Community Orchestra, and held conducting positions at Eastern Illinois University.
My Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and Master’s Degree in Orchestral and Choral Conducting are from Eastern Illinois University, and my conducting schedule has included performances throughout Florida, Illinois, South Carolina, Colorado, and New York, including serving as Assistant Conductor for a performance in Carnegie Hall. My wife Gwenn and I just celebrated 18 years of marriage, and live with our two wonderful children, Greg and Grace, in St. Petersburg, Florida.
