Who We Are » Staff

Brian Bartoldus coordinates every aspect of music at FPC, including leading the Festival, Sanctuary, and Handbell choirs. He also serves a church organist for weekly services. In addition to his work in Frederick, Brian is the Artistic Director of Handel Choir of Baltimore, a critically acclaimed choral ensemble celebrated for its yearly performance of Handel’s Messiah with period instrument orchestra. Brian earned his DMA in choral conducting from the Yale School of Music, studying with Marguerite Brooks, Masaaki Suzuki, Jeffrey Douma, and Simon Carrington. He studied composition, organ, and conducting at Shenandoah University, where his primary teachers included William Averitt, Steven Cooksey, and Robert Shafer. He is the Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus of the professional vocal ensemble Third Practice. During his tenure as Artistic Director, Third Practice won plaudits from major publications, praising their “unfailing technique,” (Cecelia Porter, The Washington Post), “first-rate” musicality, (Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim, The New York Times), and “ethereal voices” (Patrick D. McCoy, Washington Life Magazine). Brian has prepared choirs for both the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra. He lives on the campus of Virginia Theological Seminary, where his wife is studying for the priesthood.

Ashley serves at the Director of Youth Ministries, coordinating weekly youth fellowship meetings and summer mission trips for the growing community of young people at FPC. Ashley grew up in the Presbyterian church, as a “PK” (Pastor’s Kid), and participated fully in available programs as a young person. As an adult some of her volunteer activities include teaching Sunday school, assisting with youth group activities including lock-ins, service projects, and mission trips, and directing an intergenerational sign language choir.

Ashley has degrees in Music Education and Trombone Performance from Ithaca College and The University of Oklahoma. She taught middle school band, choir and orchestra both in upstate New York and Montgomery County, Maryland. She has also served as an Educational Sales Representative for Music & Arts.

Ashley has been attending Frederick Presbyterian Church since moving to Frederick in the Fall of 2013. She and her husband, Greg, were married in this church in 2017 and together they have loved becoming a part of the dynamic faith community. Greg serves on the Finance Committee and teaches the middle school Sunday school class. In addition to working with the youth, Ashley regularly plays trombone and hand bells during Sunday services and co-directs the Celebration Singers.

Lindsay serves as Director of Family Ministries and Education, gleaning from her lifelong involvement in the Presbyterian church to design, implement, and lead learning opportunities for all age groups.

Growing up in Virginia, she fondly recalls, “I never dreaded rising early on Sunday morning!” The abundance of activities she sought out at church — Sunday School, Confirmation Class, Choir, Youth Group, lock-ins, mission trips, and more — kept her excited, engaged, and forged deep bonds with her church family. Lindsay desires to develop and strengthen the same lasting connections to faith for the community of FPC.

Lindsay’s easy rapport with young people inspires trust and never fails to generate fun! She honed these gifts coaching gymnastics for over a decade; and at FPC, continues to delight in her joy of working with kids by teaching Sunday School and helping organize Vacation Bible School. She also participates in the Festival Choir. She and her husband Scott have been members of FPC since 2020.

Lindsay is grateful to be able to help enrich the spiritual lives of the FPC families as well as the personal enrichment she reaps through building loving relationships with them and the larger church family.

As Office Administrator, Niki is often the first person members and visitors meet when they contact FPC. Niki grew up in Frederick. She and her husband, Jonathan, met in high school, have been married 19 years, and have four beautiful daughters. Niki serves as the director of Women’s Ministry in her home church. She also enjoys watching her kids play sports and participate in community activities. When she has a few quiet moments, Niki can be found writing, reading, or gathering with friends and family.

As the education facilitator for the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), Cheryl Barnes collaborates with the CCAP Education Department and the education departments of the five CCAP Synods — three in Malawi, one in Zambia, and one in Zimbabwe — to improve the quality of primary school education in the many schools under the CCAP umbrella.

Cheryl grew up in Georgia. She earned her Bachelor of Science in special education at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia; her Master of Business Administration at Nova University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; and her Master of Divinity at Colombia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. She is a member of the Northeast Georgia Presbytery.

Prior to entering ordained ministry, Cheryl taught special education and worked in early childhood education. Her experience in educating children, a commitment to service, and a teachable spirit have prepared her well for this ministry.