Bruce A. Ahlich is currently serving an appointment as the Kantor-Director of Music of Trinity Lutheran Church and School. He serves as the principal organist, directs the Adult Choir and Choir Chime choirs, coordinates musical activities involving the Divine Services of the congregation and works with the pastors in the planning of those Divine Services for worship. He has supervised the 1989 and 2006 Organ Expansion Projects. Bruce has also taught adult education courses at Trinity on Lutheran hymnody, music and liturgy as well as on the Lutheran Confessions and their teachings.

He was born on June 29, 1957 to Carl and Dorothy (nee Blank) Ahlich of Reed City, Michigan; where his mother’s family has resided since 1867. He attended by elementary and secondary school in that community graduating as Salutatorian of his high school class in 1975.

Bruce attended college at Ferris State College (now Ferris State University) in 1975 from which he graduated with an Associates Degree in Applied Chemistry in 1977 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences in summer of 1981. He worked as a lab instructor and tutor in chemistry during that period for the College. He has also completed graduate work at Central Michigan University for a Master of Science degree in Health Care Administration.

He has been employed as a pharmacist at the Rogers City Hospital (now closed) and at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. He currently serves as the Coordinator of Affiliate and Ambulatory Pharmacy Services managing affiliate pharmacy operations at Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital in Frankfort, to Kalkaska Memorial Hospital in Kalkaska, and as Director of Pharmacy Services to Mercy Hospital in Cadillac. He assists with the management and the development of retail pharmacy services in the Munson Ambulatory Pharmacy Services division of Munson Healthcare. He is a fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists and a member in good standing of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists.

Bruce began his study of the organ/piano at the age of 7 and played his first Divine Service at the age of 12. He has served as an organist to the following LC-MS parishes: Trinity-Reed City, Grace-Baldwin, St. John-Rogers City, and Trinity-Traverse City. During his five and half year stay in Rogers City, he served as the Director of Music for the 1981 Lutheran Hour Rally in Alpena, Michigan, conducted the Northeast Michigan Lutheran Chorus, and the Rogers City Band. He serves currently as member of the Board of Directors for the Music House Museum in Acme.

Bruce’s strong interests lie in the area of music, particularly the music of the Lutheran church, Lutheran theology, and the mechanical aspects and construction of pipe organs. He also enjoys a good game of pool or Euchre, gardening, gourmet cooking and science fiction. He is unmarried.

Email: bahlich@tctrinity.org