John Shilanskas, Director of Music

John Paul Shilanskas began as Music Director at Faith Presbyterian Church in March of 2023.  John graduated from Easton Area High School in 2002, Temple University's Esther Boyer College of Music in 2006, and gained his Master's Equivalency from the University of the Arts in 2009.  John met his wife, Heidi, on an EAHS Choir trip in 2000.  They married in 2008 and have two boys.  The Shilanski (plural form of Shilanskas) family enjoy swimming, road trips, cheering for the New York Rangers, New York Mets, and Philadelphia Eagles, and attending Straight No Chaser concerts of which John's brother, Walt, is a founding member.  

 

John Paul Shilanskas has been called by God to share his musical gifts in many different ways.  John Paul learned to play saxophone and has participated in school choirs since 3rd Grade.  While a Temple Owl, John was a founding member of the Broad Street Line a cappella group and toured with the Temple University Concert Choir.  For 18 years, John was a member of the Jerusalem Singers, a non-profit choir that raised food and monetary donations for local food banks.  Mr. Shilanskas has dedicated most of his adult life spreading the gift of music with adolescents at Easton Area High School.  Most recently, John Shilanskas was called to serve as Director of Music at St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bethlehem from 2019 to 2023.

 

John's favorite biblical texts include the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi and Psalm 150.  John believes that, just as every person can offer prayers to God, every person can raise a joyful noise in song to our Lord and Savior.