Pastor Anna von Winckler
Originally from New Jersey, Anna has preached and pastored all over the United States and abroad. Anna has served as a chaplain in hospital and hospice settings, taught overseas in the Middle East and Africa, and served in several congregations as an interim pastor. Anna brings with her to Indiana her three-legged pup, Trinity, who is 2 years old. Trinity had a rough start in life and is extremely shy, but she can be found by Anna’s side in the office during the week. If you have time, feel free to stop in to meet her and to say hi. Anna also brings her half hairless cat, Amarte. He, too, had a rough start to life, but he is loving and sweet and has never met a stranger. He will greet you with a rub against your leg. Anna is the proud mother of two adult children, Carissa and Elijah. Carissa is a student at Purdue, and Elijah is serving in the Navy and is currently stationed in Japan.
Director of Music Robert Nicholls
Robert Nicholls was born in Cambridge, England, to a British farmer and an American mother from Carmi, Illinois, and grew up in rural Cambridgeshire. At the age of eight, he joined the choristers at Westminster Abbey in London under the direction of Simon Preston. He graduated from Oundle School and Cambridge University. Robert was a member of the choirs of Gonville and Caius and St. John’s Colleges in Cambridge where he sang tenor. He maintained an abiding interest in the organ to the chagrin of his singing teacher and joined the staff of First Pres in 1996.
Robert is married to Emma Nicholls Ph.D., a pediatric Clinical Psychologist whom he met next door in Evansville. They are proud parents of Elena and William.
Robert enjoys walking to work in all seasons along historic First Street, running along the greenway, and growing what food he can in a small backyard. His other passions are organ and choral music, silence for reading, and teaching youngsters to read music. However, his secret desire is to be a good jazz pianist.
Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator Carrie Aiken
Carrie has attended First Presbyterian for 16 years, becoming a member in November of 2008. She has been a member of the First Presbyterian Wide Awake Band for almost as long as she has been attending, and she also enjoys singing with the First Presbyterian Choir under the direction of Robert Nicholls.
Carrie was born and raised in Evansville, where she attended the University of Evansville earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. She then attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas where she earned her Master’s degree in Vocal Performance. After a brief career in Opera Performance, she returned to Evansville where she taught music to middle and high school level teens for 9 years with the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation. Though no longer teaching, Carrie continues to enjoy working with teens as a Juvenile Probation Officer in the Vanderburgh Superior Court- Juvenile Division, under the Honorable Judge Niemeier.
Carrie is married to Tony Aiken, who is an English and Art teacher at Benjamin Bosse High School. They are the proud parents of Alaina Aiken, and two energetic canine “children,” Bruno and Marley. When not working, Carrie enjoys spending quality time with her family, reading, and creating.
Office Administrator Lora Blaylock
Lora Blaylock was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. She came to Indiana to attend the University of Evansville, from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music Management. Lora plays the flute and handbells, and she has sung soprano with the Evansville Philharmonic Chorus and Evansville Chamber Singers over the years. She joined the Choir of First Presbyterian Church in 1994, and the staff in 1999.
Lora met her husband Paul, an Electrical Engineer, at UE, despite growing up within an hour’s drive of each other in Ohio. They still have family there and enjoy visiting whenever schedules allow.
When not in the church office or choir loft, Lora enjoys cooking, gardening, sewing, and old television shows. She and Paul love living in downtown Evansville and are still happily married even after building their home-away-from-home (aka the garage!).
Technology/Marketing Coordinator Skylin Parker (they/them)
Skylin Parker was born in 2003 and grew up in Evansville Indiana and attended Evansville Christian School. They have a passion in electronics and how they work.
They began working at First Presbyterian Church in April of 2022 and has been a member since. working first on livestreaming the services for everyone online to handling media and marketing.
They enjoy tinkering with computers, creating art in many different ways, creating gardens, hiking especially in the great smoky mountains, and caring for their dogs, cats, and reptiles.