Every weekend, 574 miles logged to serve as director of music in Elyria church

ELYRIA — When Dylan Sanzenbacher first started working as the organist for First Congregational United Church of Christ of Elyria 10 years ago, it was a good fit for him. He had approached the Rev. Patrick Nicolino while still in his first semester studying music education at then-Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. Though he had "very little" experience on the organ — his main instrument was piano — he was hired, and he commuted from Berea to Elyria throughout his undergraduate years. His role expanded: In 2017, he became director of music, directing the Campanella Ringers handbell choir and accompanying and directing the Chancel Choir. But with a bachelor's degree in hand, things got a bit more complicated. He was accepted to the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, for graduate school. It was an opportunity to continue studying with Lisa Crawford, a former harpsichord professor at Oberlin College with whom he had been studying locally since his junior year at Baldwin Wallace. Crawford was coming out of retirement to commute to Rochester to teach at Eastman. Sanzenbacher knew he wanted to study the harpsichord, "the grandfather of the modern piano," and was also willing to commute from Rochester back to Elyria every weekend — if he could continue his role in Elyria. He asked Nicolino if the church was willing. "When we were interviewing for the position, I immediately felt Dylan was the person for the organist/musician/ choir director, whole music program director, I can't explain it other than I just immediately got the 'he's the person' kind of feeling," Nicolino said. "Since I'm a pastor, it may have been God speaking, but I just got that immediate feeling of 'he's the person.' And when he discussed the going back and forth for his master and doctorate program from Rochester we said, 'Oh, we can make it work.'" It was quite the commute. For five years, Sanzenberger, and his wife, Angela, whom he married in 2024, made the weekly trip to from Rochester and Elyria and back again. They racked up nine-plus hours and more than 190,000 miles on his car, leaving after work on Friday or Saturday afternoon, stopping at his parents' in Warren, Ohio, dropping off their dogs, then heading to Elyria for choir rehearsals by 9 a.m. Sunday, church service at 10 a.m., bell choir rehearsal at 11 a.m., lunch, pick up their dogs and back on the road to Rochester. "As time goes on, it gets crazier and crazier to think about that we actually did it. Angela and I talk about it a lot," Sanzenberger said. "We just put our blinders on on and did it. As tiring as it was, we just had our Energizer bunny pack on and just kept going. It was very methodical. Every minute counted." He received his doctorate of musical arts degree in May, with a specialty in harpsichord. Last year they bought a home in Vermilion and Angela took a job as a music teacher with the Vermilion Schools but her job was recently eliminated. She will soon be an elementary music teacher with the Danbury Schools in Lakeside. "Ultimately we knew we both wanted to come back to Ohio and settle because our families were here and because I knew I wanted to keep working at First Church," he said. "The people here are so friendly and so welcoming. The thing is, the people here have always supported me in anything I've wanted to do. They've been the open door for me to be as creative as I want. And that's the reason I stay. "There is a longstanding tradition of excellent music at First Church," he said, and he is looking forward to expanding that legacy with a host of recitals and programs. He has already planned recitals including a solo recital on First Church's 1949 Holtkamp organ, French horn, and concertos for harpsichords. He has accompanied members of the Cleveland Orchestra's brass section on organ for some notable services, such as the church's bicentennial service in 2024. "For me personally, but for the congregation as well, both to be part of Dylan's journey and watching him grow as a person, as a musician and as a scholar, it has been wonderful," Nicolino said. "Dylan and I have phenomenal plans for music at First Church, for worship services, musical programs, for concerts, and I am so looking forward to it." Contact Rini Jeffers at rinijeffers@gmail.com.