THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 1, 1995 TAG: 9412300230
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
WITH A FLICK of the wrist, Talmadge Darden lifted the veil of weekday silence that cloaked the sanctuary of Suffolk Christian Church.
As soon as they touched the keyboard, the pianist's fingers took on a life all their own. His hands effortlessly danced from note to note - and magically, Darden turned the familiar hymn into a musical celebration of faith.
``Anybody can stand up and sing a song, but the person who does it best is the one who feels the music,'' said Darden, the new minister of music at Suffolk Christian. ``We are singing for the Lord, and the Lord does not want boring music.
``I think playing the piano is a lot like life. You get out of it what you put into it.''
Today, much of the Suffolk community is enjoying the time and attention Darden, 38, has always invested in both his life and music.
Youngsters are most familiar with the Carrsville native through his 16 years with the Suffolk Public Schools. Darden, principal at John Yeates Middle School, joined the school division as a seventh-grade teacher at Southwestern Intermediate in 1978.
After six years in the classroom, he was named principal of Southwestern and later became the Yeates principal.
Darden began his part-time music career as a favor to a teacher when he was a Windsor High School senior. The choir director and organist at the teacher's church, Bethany Presbyterian Church in Zuni, had left just before the Christmas season and Darden agreed to fill in for two months until the position was filled.
The two months somehow stretched into 21 years that ended the last Sunday of September when Darden's former choir paid tribute to him by singing ``Friends.''
Ironically, it was a suggestion from another of his teachers - this time one who worked at his school - that brought him to Suffolk Christian. One of his staff knew of his musical background and suggested he apply for the position when it became open last fall.
``This is an opportunity that presented itself to me - I didn't go looking for it,'' Darden said. ``But after 21 years in the same place, I just felt I needed a different challenge.''
That's what he has found at Suffolk Christian. In addition to directing the 25-member choir each Sunday and for special holiday performances, Darden also is responsible for helping with two children's choirs, leading the adult handbell choir and filling in whenever necessary for the church's organist and pianist. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Darden, principal at John Yeates Middle School, is the new director
of music at Suffolk Christian Church.
by CNB