Brown Bradley - Director of Music & Fine Arts, bbradley@mbfpc.com

Brown graduated from Furman University, earned his Masters degree in Music from New York University, and did advanced PhD work at NYU and Juiliard School of Music. He studied voice with Oren Brown at Juilliard and coached with Martin Katz, Kenneth Merrill, David Lloyd, and Jane Klaviter. He has written voice articles for The American Music Teacher, The NATS Journal, and The Choral Journal and was voice chairman at The New School in New York City for eight years.

Brown's career includes appearances as tenor soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera Studio, The Washington Opera, The Hong Kong Opera, The Little Orchestra Society, The Chamber Soloists of Lincoln Center, The Los Angeles Bach Festival, The New York City Opera, the Robert Shaw Chorale, The Roger Wagner Chorale, and The National Chorale. He has also performed supporting roles in six hit musicals on Broadway. Earlier in Bradley's career, he was tenor soloist with the U.S. Air Force Symphony and Singing Sergeants in Washington, DC, where he also performed as a leading tenor with the Washington Opera. He performed in the Benjamin Britten New York premiere of TheProdigal Sonat Lincoln Center with Metropolitan Opera leading bass, Samuel Ramey. He has received vocal grants from the Metropolitan Opera, the National Opera Institute, and the William Matheus Sullivan Foundation.

Since moving back to South Carolina in 1985 and joining the staff of First Presbyterian, he has performed as tenor soloist with the Charleston Symphony Chamber Orchestra, The Long Bay Symphony, The Florence Symphony and Master Chorale, The St. Michael’s Chorale, and the Bach Chorale of Wilmington, N.C. He has been a soloist at Piccolo Spoleto and has been a SC tour artist. Bradley has taken master classes with organist, John Weaver, John Ferguson, and John Walker. He resides in Myrtle Beach with his wife Mary and being close to their daughter, Ashley, and son Damon. Brown is also the founder/artistic director of the award-winning FPC Concerts, Inc.

Linda Downes - Director of Children, Youth & Handbell Choirs, ldownes@mbfpc.com

A native of Pennsylvania and a graduate of West Chester University with a degree in music education, Linda Downes has been on the staff of First Presbyterian Church in Myrtle Beach, SC since October 2004. She has brought years of experience, coming from Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware, where she served for 28 years as Director of Children, Youth, and Handbell Choirs. In addition, she administrated a very successful mid-week program for young people at the church using the LOGOS model. Linda taught in the public school system as a music educator and was nominated by her school for Delaware's Teacher of the Year.

She currently directs seven choirs at FPC: three graded vocal choirs from 1st grade through high school, and multiple handbell choirs. Linda is also responsible for the music at the Early Sabbath Thursday worship service. In serving at FPC, she feels extremely blessed to be able to combine three of her greatest passions in life: her love of children & youth, the gift of music, and her deep faith in God!

Linda’s husband, Pat, is the organist at First United Methodist Church in Myrtle Beach and is on the staff at Coastal Carolina University. She values time with her family and enjoys travelling . . . a good thing, since her brother lives in Idaho, her daughter, son-in-law, and grandsons live in Charlotte, NC, and her son, a recent Northern Arizona University graduate, lives in Flagstaff, AZ!

Lisa Hamilton - Director of The Growing Tree, lhamilton@mbfpc.com

A native South Carolinian, Lisa and her family moved to Myrtle Beach in 1989 where she immediately became active in the First Presbyterian Church. With a BS from the College of Charleston and a M.Ed. from USC in Elementary Education, she helped start The Growing Tree in 1990. Coming from generations of teaching and a true love of children, Lisa has a passion for the school and the church. Currently a member of the Property Committee, a former Sunday school teacher and Session member, she looks forward to the continued blessings from being a part of this church family. Lisa and her husband Scott have a beautiful daughter, Britt and a wonderful son, Miles. Reading, cooking, and walking her dog, Hurley are a few favorite past times.

Todd Harms - Director of Youth & Missions, tharms@mbfpc.com

Todd Harms is the Director of Youth and Mission. Most recently, Todd was Vice President of Sales Dev't & HR/Training at a local credit union, Carolina Trust FCU. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BS in Business Administration-Management and has served at FPC in a full-time capacity since July 2006.

Todd's involvement with youth dates back to helping his own parents chaperone trips for their church youth group when he was still in college. Shortly after moving to Myrtle Beach in 1998, he was recruited to serve as a volunteer. Some of Todd's fondest memories involve mission trips, retreat experiences and Impact group meetings with the FPC student ministry.

In his current position, Todd is charged with creating a nurturing environment for the students of our church and community by sharing the love of Christ, providing opportunities for recreation, fellowship, and worship. In addition, his responsibilities include creating mission experiences, locally and globally, for the church. Todd lives in Pawleys Island, SC with his wife, Shari, and their two children, Adam and Sammy-Kaye.

Marian Shelton - Director of Children's Ministries, mshelton@mbfpc.com

After graduating from the University of Georgia with a BFA in art education, Marian Shelton chose to return to the coast and family, becoming the first certified Visual Arts teacher at Myrtle Beach Elementary School. A life-long Presbyterian, Marian has enjoyed many positions at First Presbyterian Church, Myrtle Beach: first as a welcomed new member, then a Sunday school teacher, as Elder, Fine Arts Camp leader, involved mom, Director of Midweek M&M, and now, one that lets her use every gift she's ever been given, Director of Children's Ministries. It seems that all her experiences and training were just in preparation for where she is now-and she loves it! From Sunday school to Vacation Bible School, LOGOS, and Children's Church, Marian and our church family serve with love and dedication. Together they invite all our children into relationship with God and each other.

Marian is a native of the low-country, having been born in Charleston, raised in Georgetown, and now lives in Myrtle Beach with her husband Michael, and daughter Meg. For Marian, one of the best things about FPC is that it is a place where her whole family is at home, serving God together with joy and enthusiasm. 

Elizabeth (Betty) Singleton - Director of Special Education Offerings, bsingleton@mbfpc.com

Elizabeth (Betty) Gamble Singleton grew up a member of the Moorefield Presbyterian Church in eastern West Virginia. Betty, a life-long student of history and religion, studied at West Virginia University and Coastal Carolina University. She and her husband Earl joined First Presbyterian Church in 1961 when they returned to Myrtle Beach after Earl's graduation from USC Pharmacy School. Betty joined the FPC staff in 1993 when three lay members assumed the duties of departing Christian Educator, David Suhs. She continues to serve as part-time member of the Adult Education Staff as Director of Special Educational Offerings. Betty's prayer is that her work at FPC will contribute to the broadening of our congregation's understanding of a faithful, loving God and the responses of faithful, loving children of God.

"Big Earl" and Betty have served in every aspect of the life of First Presbyterian Church and are the proud parents of three children, Elizabeth, Earl, and Charles all of whom were baptized and confirmed at First Presbyterian.