Gwen Blumenschein, M.M., A.A.G.O., serves as Assistant Director of Music at First Plymouth Church. Her duties include assisting the Director, Frank Perko in accompanying and directing the chancel choir, playing organ or piano music, directing the Handbell Choir and the First Plymouth Young Childrens Voices. Her love of organ developed at a young age while watching the church organist's feet playing the pedals. She studied organ and choral music at Oberlin Conservatory and the University of Michigan, as well as attending the Royal School of Church Music Summer Course in England, and the Stattliche Hochshule fur Musik in Frankfurt, Germany. Gwen has directed children, adult and bell choir programs; directed church musicals and Madrigal dinners; and organized recital series and concerts.  She has been actively involved in Choristers Guild, a national organization which supports children's choirs, the Royal School of Church Music Choir program, the American Guild of Organists, and National Pastoral Musicians. Gwen began a children's choir program at St. Jude Catholic Church in Lakewood, Colorado which grew to a comprehensive Kingergarten through 12th grade music program. She was instrumental in spearheading the St. Jude Children and Youth choirs trip to Rome to sing at the International Congress of Pueri Conatores, presenting a concert at a church in Rome and singing for a Papal Mass on New Year's Day, 2006 at the Vatican.