October 13, 2007

Because of family commitments, our current first tenor, Bruce Reichert will no longer be able to sing with us. We are very sorry to be losing him. He has been a dedicated member of 4 Given since its formation in 1997. However, we recognize that, apart from our relationship with God and our service to him, our families are the most important things here on this earth, and we commend his commitment to his family. Bruce, we will miss you.

We are looking for a new first tenor...

About Us:

Our current members are Rich Greeley (bass), Barry Finkbeiner (baritone), John Vaden (second tenor), and Bruce Reichert (first tenor).

4 Given is a gospel quartet that has been together as a group for about 10 years. We organized in the fall of 1997, and had our first concert in March of 1998. We sing mostly in churches and gatherings around Michigan, but have performed as far away as Toronto, Ontario, and Rockford, IL. We also had the privilege of singing for the Michigan Men of Faith conference held in Cedar Lake in 2001. Due to the arrival of some new little members to John's family, we haven't had much time to perform for the past four years, but we would like to return to a schedule of regular performances. Our goal is to perform an average of one concert per month (maybe a little more).

We sing a mixture of musical styles including a small amount of traditional King's Heralds music, some contemporary quartet arrangements, and southern gospel. We are currently influenced by the Gaither Vocal Band, the Heralds, the Heritage Singers Quartet, and the Cathedrals, though we are always looking to expand our repertoire. Our concerts last about an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half. About 1/3 of our music is a cappella, and the rest is done with soundtracks. We have a lot of fun up on the stage with a fair amount banter, but our concerts are always Christ-centered.

We believe that what we do is, first and foremost, a ministry. We contribute not only of our time and talents, but also of our finances. By and large, each member is responsible for his own traveling expenses. Our concerts generally do not require overnight stays. We take up a free-will offering at each concert. Off the top of that comes quartet-related expenses such as sound equipment (repairs, additions, etc.), soundtracks, and music. With whatever is left over, we reimburse traveling expenses, though it often is not enough to completely cover expenses.

Following is a list of qualities that we are looking for in a first tenor.

Must-have qualities:

• A true first-tenor vocal range
• A good sense of pitch and the ability to blend well
• A weekend schedule that will not be difficult to schedule concerts around
• The ability to travel to Cedar Lake, MI for occasional practices
• Someone who always strives to be on time to commitments
• Most importantly, a true desire to serve the Lord with your vocal talents

Desirable qualities:

• Someone who, in addition to blending with the group, can also do some solo work
• A good sense of humor

If you are interested in trying out, or if you know of someone else who might be, please contact us via email at newfirsttenor@4-given.us. We look forward to hearing from you.