*Cultural enrichment*
*Utilizing gospel*
*Embracing diversity*
*Spiritual uplifting*

*Building bridges*
*Community experience*
*Culture friendly*

"We are committed."

Virginia Peacock-Makkers - Executive Director

Follow Hymn Music Ministries
Minister Of Music – Zion Baptist Church, Lynn, MA 

Currently, Ms Makkers is the music instructor, teaching music theory and co-musical chorus director at KIPP Academy, Lynn, MA

Ms Makkers, is an accomplished classical and gospel pianist. She has been Minister of Music at Zion Baptist Church for more than twenty years. Her professional musical experience expands over five decades. She began playing at age seven, receiving private instruction, as well as studying at Weltman’s Conservatory of Music to age fourteen. While attending Revere High School, she was the accompanist for most of their choral groups and choirs.

She has studied at the New England Conservatory of Music and Berklee College of Music. She has provided private instruction and was an instructor at New England Conservatory of Music Community Service Program. Ms Makkers provided instruction and musical direction for the gospel choir of the prestigious Boston Latin Academy during the 1980's. She taught gospel piano for ten years at Butler’s School of Music in Boston. Musical prison ministry is included in her many accomplishments.

She was pianist and later became Director of Music at First Baptist Church Saugus, for more than thirty years beginning at age nine; Minister of Music for more than ten years at New Hope Baptist Church. She continues to use her gift of music in many arenas, in and around the North Shore and Greater Boston area.

You may contact Ms. Makkers via email at: vmakkers@followhymn.org

Doreen Murray – Artistic Director, Follow Hymn Music Ministries

Doreen Murray, Vice President of Follow Hymn Music Ministries, is a professional soloist, and performing artist who has been performing professionally for more than 25 years. She is a member of Zion Baptist church, Lynn, MA where she directs and provides vocal support for the choir.

She studied theatre arts while attending Northeastern University and majored in biology pre-med. She attended the National Center for Performing Arts and the Robicheau School of ballet, where she studied traditional dance disciplines and French and Russian ballet for many years: the Institute of Contemporary Dance. Her acting and drama experience began as a young child and continued throughout her high school and college years. At age fourteen, she was accepted for a major role in the original Broadway musical, “God Spell”. Although unable to accept the role, she continued to study and perform.She has taught traditional dance, i.e., tap, jazz ballet along, specializing in liturgical and African dance

.Currently she is the Artistic director and Choir director for the Follow Hymn Interfaith Choir and co-instructs and directs the children’s chorus of KIPP Academy Lynn, MA. She has written a complete Gospel musical play, which was performed two years ago. The play is soon to be performed again. It is her goal to have the play performed at the North Shore Music Theatre.  

You may contact Ms. Murray via email at: dmurray@followhymn.org

We are committed to promoting cultural enrichment, spiritual uplifting and community experience utilizing gospel, and spiritual and inspirational music as a means of multicultural awareness.