Barbara was appointed Minister of Music at The Parish of Christ Church, Andover in February 2005. The daughter of United Methodist missionaries, Barbara was born and raised in Japan where she spent the first 18 years of her life. She first began playing for church services at the age of 13 at the US Army Base Chapel in Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan, and has been a church musician ever since! At Christ Church, she oversees a multi-level choir program, a series of concerts, and plays for morning and evening services, weddings and funerals. She works closely with the teachers and families of children and young adults, training singers and providing music for Children's Chapel, Christmas Pageant, and choir festivals.

Barbara holds a Bachelor of Music degree in organ perform­ance, magna cum laude, from Augustana College and a Master of Music de­gree, with honors, from the New England Conservatory where she was elected to Pi Kappa Lambda honorary. Recognized as an accomplished recitalist, accompanist, and conduc­tor, she is the recipient of the “Outstanding Alumni Award” from Augustana College and has concertized extensively in the United States, Europe, and Japan.   Since 1976 she has performed as soloist for national conventions of the Organ Historical Society, the American Guild of Organists, and the Association of Anglican Musicians.

Prior to her appointment in the fall of 2000 as Associate Organist and Choirmaster at St. Michael's Church, New York City, Barbara served as Minister of Music at St. Thomas' Church, Whitemarsh, PA and at three Episcopal parishes in Massachusetts: St. John's, Gloucester, St. Michael's, Marblehead, and St. Stephen's, Westborough. She has been organ instructor at the New England Conservatory Preparatory and Continuing Education Schools, National Chair of the Leadership Program for Musicians, Music Director of "AMUSE", a 16-voice vocal ensemble in New York City for ama­teur women, and Director of Training for Leadership Technologies, Inc. in New York City. For many years, Ms. Bruns was Associate Conductor of The Boston Cecilia and a member of the Board of Directors of the Old West Organ Society. She and her husband, Bill, reside in Gloucester, MA and have three grown sons, Robert, Matthew, and Richard.

You may contact Barbara by e-mail or by calling her at the Glebe House at 978-475-0529, ext. 20.