Tate Addis

Associate Director of Music and Organist

Tate collaborates with the Pastor of Music and Worship in a comprehensive music program, teaches organ and piano in the church’s Academy for the Arts, directs the Handbell Ensemble, accompanies the Asheville Youth Choir. He currently serves as Assistant Director and Accompanist for the Asheville Symphony Chorus and maintains an active career as an organ recitalist. Until 2022, he presented a monthly series of organ recitals entitled ‘ Bach’s Lunch.’ Tate joined the First Baptist Church staff as Organist in 2015 and was named Associate Director of Music and Organist in 2023.

Before coming to Asheville, Tate served for two years as Wilson Family Sacred Music Intern at New York City’s Brick Presbyterian Church. He has also served as Organist-Choirmaster at the Yale Berkeley Divinity School in New Haven and as organist at Second Presbyterian Church in Kansas City. He holds degrees from Wichita State University, the University of Missouri – Kansas City, Yale University, and Oberlin Conservatory. Tate makes his home in Asheville with his wife, Rev. Laura Addis, and their daughter, Maggie.