WILLIAM J. CARL III
In the summer of 1971, There were several very landmark events. Allen Pote came to be the new Minister of Music, Dr. Ball went on sabbatical for a month or two, and Bill Carl showed up to be the summer Intern pastor and work with the youth of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, in Houston Texas. The collaboration between Allen and Bill and one of the older youth, Mary Kyte, resulted in the production of a musical called CRESCENDO! which changed all our lives.
At the end of the summer, Bill gave this sermon as his farewell address, making frequent references to "the musical," by which he meant CRESCENDO! Below find the sermon, and below that are the songs from CRESCENDO! composed by Bill and Allen, and performed during the performance by the Joyful Noise choir...before the Joyful Noise had ever been organised.
This whole experience laid the foundation for the next several years in the life of the church. It certainly made an impression on all of the young people involved in the production. (..personally, Mom married
one of the main actors , now deceased). Mary Kyte went on to work on Broadway. Bill Carl went on to become the president of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and Allen Pote has been well known as a composer of church music all over the world (Allen mentioned how rewarding to have his songs sung to him in Korean when he and Susan visited Korea). How wise of Dr. ball to throw this bunch into the cauldron and leave them alone to blossom in the joy of their youth and vital energy.
How wonderful to have the three men together with the youth (now a bunch of lively middle aged people) at Mo Ranch in the summer of 2010! There is another reunion planned for five years hence. See y'all again in 2015!
Mary is missing. If anyone has seen Mary Kyte, or knows of her accomplishments after her New york production, Please contact us.