Staff

REV. LEE LALLANCE

Minister of Music and the Fine Arts

Rev. Lee Lallance is currently serving as Minister of Music and the Fine Arts at First United Methodist Church of Lakeland, one of the largest United Methodist Church in the Florida Conference.

Rev. Lallance has served in United Methodist Churches for over 30 years. From 1984 – 1994 Lee was the International Concert Artist for Kurzweil Music Systems, performing concerts and seminars throughout Europe, Japan, and Asia. Lee has represented the United States at International Trade Fairs in Syria and Jordan and has performed as an Ambassador of Friendship in Poland and Romania.

He has a B.M.E. in Music Education from Florida State University, a Master of Music Education from Columbus College and has pursued Doctoral studies at the University of South Florida in Tampa. For the past 30 years Lee has been an adjudicator for the Florida Vocal Association and is in constant demand as a show choir and vocal jazz clinician throughout the United States. In addition to his church musical duties Lee serves on the faculty at Southeastern University in Lakeland where he teaches jazz piano.

Contact Information: llallance@firstumc.org

Matthew H. Corl

Associate Director and Organist

Matthew H. Corl is a graduate of Westminster Choir College, where he received the Bachelor of Music degree in Church Music in 1987. His teachers at Westminster included Joan Lippincott, Robin Leaver and Allen Crowell. Matthew also studied organ with Dr. Paul Davis in the Preparatory Department of the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. While a student at Westminster, Matthew served as Director of Music and Organist at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Trenton, NJ.

Since 1987 Matthew has been Organist and Associate Director of Music at First United Methodist in Lakeland, Florida where he directs vocal and handbell ensembles for children and youth. Matthew has been a clinician for workshops in Florida and Ohio, and as a composer has written works for organ, choir, handbells and instrumental ensembles. Matthew was the Carl F. Mueller Scholar in church music composition while a student at Westminster, and was a finalist in the choral composition competition at Ithaca College in 1989. His compositions are published by several major publishers. Matthew and his wife, Emily (Buckner), have one son, Will.

Contact Information: mcorl@firstumc.org