Schuylerville United Methodist Church 

 51 Church Street, Schuylerville, NY 12871

    (Parsonage Phone  518-695-3101)

   Rev. Bonnie Bates, Pastor

      Dale Brockway Music Director and organist of SUMC since 1974

Dale started taking piano lesson at the ripe old age of seven from Mrs. Plattner in Bacon Hill, New York.  Following several years of lessons on a rented piano, the piano was purchased and Dale’s studies continued.  A family move across the river brought Dale to Nancy Jo Davidson, a renowned opera singer and pianist still residing in Greenwich, New York Dale went on the waiting list and soon was getting instructions.  Throughout Dale’s high school years, she played for assemblies, graduations (no band), accompanied choral concerts, learned the rudiments of conduction from Mrs. George Lindsay and knew she was headed to the profession of choice.

 Organ lessons soon came, being driven to Glens Falls every week by a devoted Grandmother.  The St. Joseph’s Catholic Church let Dale practice, and in return, Dale played for the 8AM Mass, in Latin, started a choir, and played for the first of many weddings. Dale played for their midnight Christmas Eve services, when home from college.

 A member of the Greenwich United Methodist Church Dale sang in the choir and accompanied the Sunday School and youth group and when the organist died, took over the bench and very soon ended up both organist and director, while still in high school.

 After high school, Fredonia SUNY called, and off to the big times where Dale sang with the Madrigal Group of 20 voices as a freshman, and toured New York State, finishing up in Lincoln Center.  The choral group also sang under Igor Stravinsky with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cleveland Opera Company for which Dale was one of the tallest and certainly the greenest fairy in Midsummer Nights’ Dream. While in college Dale accompanied the Unitarian Universalist Church in Dunkirk for their Sunday services.

 Upon returning to the Greenwich area, Dale soon returned to the organ bench at the United Church in Greenwich, filled in for the Episcopal Church in Fort Edward and did a short stint for the West Glens Falls Baptist Church before landing at the Schuylerville United Methodist Church in 1974 due to the organist Sally Sidwell’s illness who was Betty Polmateer’s mom.

 Dale took a year and a half leave in 1976 when tragically she and Dan her husband lost their young child.  By 197 8 Rev. Barbara Gardner was at the pulpit and after several meetings, Dale returned to the bench.

 The whole family was active for many years with the Schuylerville Community Theater, where Dale sang chorus and lead roles including (Lady Thiang) from The King and I.  She held the baton for Guys and Dolls among others, accompanied many productions, did costuming, tickets and served on the Board of Directors for many years.  Boris Godnov was the next professional staging Dale took part in at SPAC with the Cleveland Opera Company.  She was also seen several years in Fort Salem’s various productions.

 Always being ecumenical minded, Dale worked with Rev. Gardner and started the Schuylerville Ecumenical Choir, which has met for at least one program a year and sometimes two, ever since.  The handbell choir was added in 1982 with two octaves, , and now SUMC has three octaves.

 A Contemporary Group was started several years ago by Dale with an upbeat addition of drums, flute, guitar, trumpet, bass and rhythm instruments.  Sunday Contemporary Services are offered, usually the fifth Sunday of the month, with occasional ones offered outside of the church as well with the, Ecumenical Choir joining in.

Dale now spends the winters in Florida and Pat Poirier asst. organist leads the choir in her absence.

      Space for this website has been provided courtesy of 
         The General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church