Director

Andrew Lutz-Long is Associate Director of Music & Networking at Christ Lutheran Church, Allentown, PA since July 2022. Previously, Drew served as Director of Music Ministries at Trinity Lutheran Church, Perkasie, PA for 15 years.. He arrived at Trinity after graduating from Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music with a concentration in church music and administration.

At Christ Allentown, Drew oversees the choir programs including Chancel Choir and all-female Immanuel Singers as well as oversees the outreach efforts of the church both within the local community and via its digital footprint.

In 2009, Drew was invited to join the staff of the Valley Choral Society, Pennsburg, PA, as Assistant Director and serve as an accompanist. He served this role working with Patricia Conrad as Artistic Director until the summer of 2018 when Drew was offered the directorship.

Since fall of 2015, Drew serves as Chapel Organist at Muhlenberg College in Egner Chapel. In this role, he helps plan worship for the Christian community gathering weekly on Sundays, and assists at other special campus events especially concerts involving organ accompaniment. Recently, Drew has expanded his role on campus as an adjunct professor of organ studies and performance.

Assistant Director

Larry Benner was born and raised in Richlandtown, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Quakertown Community Senior High School Class of 1965. A music lover all his life, he began piano lessons at age 6 and organ lessons at age 13. Larry was a member and past president of his high school chorus and sang in other related ensembles during his school career. Upon graduation, he joined the Zion Choral Society, a sacred music chorus based in Quakertown, and continued to sing for more than thirty years.

An Army veteran, Larry entered the United States Army in 1966 and served as a chaplain’s assistant for three chaplains in the U. S. Army Hospital at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Upon his departure from active duty, Larry was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for outstanding service. In 2004 he became a member of the newly formed Allentown Symphony Chorus.

Larry Benner is organist and choir director of St. John’s United Church of Christ, Richlandtown and has served in that capacity since 1966. Now retired from the field of public education after more than forty-five year, Larry worked for the Pennridge School District, the Upper Bucks County Area Vocational-Technical School and the Quakertown Community School District during his employment years.

Curious to what singing with an all-male chorus would be like, Larry joined Summer Harmony Men’s Chorus of the Lehigh Valley in its inception year—1991.

Accompanist

Nathan Gulla earned his Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance from Ithaca College in 2009 and his Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance at the University of Maryland, College Park in 2013 where he specialized in Contemporary American piano works. In addition to his piano studies, he has studied Composition extensively and continues to write new music. His Fantasy for Trumpet Ensemble is to premiere later this year in Boston, and his debut album of epic orchestral music is also set for a 2018 release.

Nathan has gained collaborative experience through his participation in various ensemble types, including Wind Ensembles, Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, Piano Chamber Ensembles, Choirs, UMD’s Gamer Symphony Orchestra, and as an accompanist for multiple vocal and instrumental performances. Currently, he performs with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra as well as the men’s chorus, Summer Harmony, and looks forward to future collaboration with these and other organizations.