Garth Olson

Experience

• 

  Acoustic Innovations

  Jan 1985 - now

  Owner

  Director of Worship Arts, Director of Music, Music Performance, Worship Arts Education, Theory/Piano & Keyboard Lessons, Arranging, Composing, Producing, and Publisher of WineTones Newsletter (wine industry in the northwest and northeast).

• 

  Schwabe

  Dec 2006 - Mar 2011

  Office Administrator

  Oversaw strategic planning and administration of staff and five Seattle practice groups in a dual-reporting role under the Chief Operating Officer. Prepared annual operating, revenue, and capital budgets for multi-location firm based in Portland with 165 attorneys. Produced monthly branch financial analysis and productivity reports. Supervised four staff department heads supporting 35 attorneys and 40 staff. Assisted with annual business plans and budgets. Teamed with executives to define training needs and address performance issues. Prepared performance reports with analyses. Performed human resource functions and oversaw information technologies and facilities operations. Show less

• 

  First Presbyterian Church

  Jan 2012 - Mar 2015

  For a 370-member congregation two regular weekly services (Sunday morning traditional and Wednesday evening contemporary) oversee all aspects of worship arts ministries, including: choir, worship band, organist, choral accompanist, Christian education worship arts skills, and vacation bible study drama/music productions. Develop, coordinate, and communicate innovative forms of worship for a multi-generational and multi-cultural congregation by integrating music, drama, computer, video, and sound for worship arts throughout the church season. Identify, train, motivate, and empower volunteers. Cultivate a worship arts community by developing opportunities with the local downtown community, arts and music organizations, surrounding schools, and university. Work with pastoral staff for worship service planning and assist leading in other areas of church life. Show less

  • Director of Worship Arts

    Jun 2013 - Mar 2015

  • Director of Contemporary Worship

    Jan 2012 - May 2013
• 

  Asbury Church - a United Methodist Community

  Mar 2015 - Aug 2016

  Director of Worship

  For a 1,500-member congregation with four regular Sunday worship services, (two traditional, one contemporary, and one alternative) oversaw all aspects of worship arts ministries, including: worship planning, choral and handbell directors, organists, four music directors, technical arts ministries for sound/light and multi-media, worship leader for the contemporary worship service, project and worship design, copyright compliance and resource maintenance by various administrative personnel. Interpret, develop, coordinate, and communicate innovative forms of worship for a multi-generational and multi-cultural congregation by integrating music, drama, computer, video, and sound for worship arts throughout the church season. Identify, train, motivate, and empower volunteers. Chairperson for Worship Committee, Worship Ministries Team, Worship Arts Design and Worship Arts Directors Teams. Show less

• 

  First United Methodist Church Georgetown

  Sept 2016 - Jul 2022

  Director of Worship Arts Ministries

  For a 2,000-member congregation with three regular Sunday worship services, (two traditional and one contemporary) lead all aspects of music and worship arts ministries, including: planning and designing worship music collaboratively with pastors, staff, organist, accompanists, instrumentalists, and volunteers, conducting choral and instrumental ensembles, overseeing technical arts ministries for sound/light and multi-media, and currently serving as organist. Director of flagship ensembles for choral, handbell, and orchestra. Develop, coordinate, and communicate innovative forms of worship for a multi-generational and multi-cultural congregation by integrating music, drama, computer, video, and sound for worship arts throughout the church season. Identify, recruit, train, motivate, and empower volunteers. Building a music and worship arts community by developing opportunities with the local and downtown associations, charities and local non-profit organizations, surrounding schools and universities. Co-Chairperson for Worship Arts Ministries and Liturgical Arts Teams. Show less

• 

  Saxa Gotha Presbyterian Church

  Aug 2022 - Dec 2023

  Director of Music and Worship Arts Ministries

  For a 1,300-member congregation with three regular Sunday worship services, (two traditional and one contemporary) lead all aspects of music and worship arts ministries, including: planning and designing worship music collaboratively with pastors and various ministry leaders for children, students, adults, and missions; oversee accompanists, contract musicians and instrumentalists, and music worship volunteers; conduct choral and instrumental ensembles; supervise music assistant and two directors: technical arts ministries and contemporary worship. Show less

• 

  Franklin First United Methodist Church

  Oct 2023 - now

  Director of Music Ministries and Traditional Worship