First Congregational Church of Cheshire

Joseph D'Eugenio, Music Director - Joseph D'Eugenio has been Music Director at First Church since August 1, 2003. He conducts the Primary, Junior, and Senior Choirs.

Joe holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in piano from The Hartt School and a Master of Music Degree in choral conducting from the University of Connecticut where he studied with Peter Bagley. He has studied conducting with Richard Coffey, organ with Larry Allen, and piano with Paul Rutman, Luiz de Moura Castro, Watson Morrison, and May Yeung.

Until June of 2003, Joe served as organist and choirmaster at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Norwalk where he was also founder and Artistic Director of the Vespera Choral Music Series. He has conducted the Greater Middletown Chorale since 1998 and was the founder and conductor of The Grace Notes women's choir, based in Cheshire, from 1994-1999.

Marianne Beckman, Handbell Director - A music teacher in a local public school, Marianne has directed both youth and adult handbell choirs at First Church since 1997. On occasion, she will even perform a handbell solo using dozens of bells—a most impressive sight and sound!

Leslie Meyer, Church Administrator - Leslie Holmes Meyer is our Church Administrator. Leslie hails from nearby Northford, and began her faith journey at the North Haven Congregational Church, where she has spent some time working and volunteering in the church office. She has an employment background filled with a wide range of experience, which includes serving as a Risk Manager at the Hospital of Saint Raphael, a high school Spanish teacher, and as a librarian at the Edward Smith Library in Northford, to name a few. Leslie is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, with master’s degree credits from Central State University in Oklahoma. She is married with three very active children.

Fred and Pat Turner, Sextons - Fred and Pat live on the church campus with their family. They are active members of the church (Fred grew up as part of the church) and they take care of the place as if it were their own home. The Turners do a lot of things behind the scenes that aren’t in their job descriptions. Their love of the church is apparent in the pride they take in everything they do.