Music Ministry

We praise You, O God, our Redeemer, Creator, in grateful devotion our tribute we bring.

Sacred Music is a double blessing...the beautiful music and words from the Holy Bible sink deep into our memories and hearts, messages coming back to us throughout life in times of joy and stress. When we offer these anthems to God in Worship, our music is experienced by all believers, knitting our hearts together, multiplying the simple gift.

Our Music Ministry prospered this year, giving over 80 musicians the opportunity to offer their talents and hard work in anthems for our worship services.

Choral Choirs

All choral and instrumental choirs are under the direction of Brenda Ferguson. Michelle Zaro directs the Sunday School Cherub Choir.

The Sanctuary Choir
This group is responsible for leading every 10:30 a.m. Worship music, providing beautiful anthems and solos for Holy Days, Christmas, Easter, Festivals, Advent and Lent. This group sings challenging anthems (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass), selected to coordinate with the readings of the day, from the Classical music library, or from the Standard Sacred Choral music repertoire. They add extra beauty to Music Sundays, and this year, will give a concert in the spring, "The Crucifixion" by John Stainer, Wednesday evening, March 28 @ 7 pm.

Many of these members provide solos throughout the year. Several of our distinguished members have 50+ years of service to this choir, this church, including Alto section leader Carol Brundage, Bass leader George Culik and our two professional Soprano soloists and leaders, Rosemary Deering and Geraldine Goumas. Tenors and Basses Sectional rehearses Thursday evenings, 7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings, 7:30-9:00 p.m., and Sunday mornings, 9:45-10:15 a.m.

Chapel Choir
The High School Youth Choir, who have advanced to singing Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass! Rehearsals are on Mondays 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and offer their talents at the 10:30 a.m. worship and for 9:30 a.m. worship preludes.

New! High School choir: Renaissance Camerata

Sacristy Singers
They prepare and offer excellent musicals throughout the year. This spring, on Saturday, May 12th @ 7 pm they will present "Oh, Jonah!" from the Old Testament Book of Jonah. We always give a musical to our mothers for Mother's Day in appreciation for their support and love.

Elementary & Middle School age singers who meet on Thursdays and rehearse 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. All are welcome!

Cherub Choir
Our youngest singers, pre-school to grade 2 offer their sweet voices to our 10:30 a.m. Worship and lifted our spirits to God with age-appropriate singing. Rehearsal is done during Sunday Church School. The cherub choir is led by Michelle Zaro, accompanied by Brenda Ferguson. All are welcome!

CANZONA musical groups are for our more advanced students, including orchestral instruments. Canzona rehearses Mondays, 8:00-8:30 p.m.

Chamber Singers is a choir of Women and girls with and sings one Sunday in the fall (All Saints Day) and again in the spring. We rehearse one month prior to that date, on Thursday evenings, 7:30-8:00 p.m.

Cantorem is a Choir of Men and Boys, singing the first Sunday in Advent, and at other times throughout the year. We sing hymns based on Gregorian Chant, or other appropriate hymns. Rehearsals are the month prior to singing in worship.

Chorale is open to any musician who wants to contribute to the 8:15 a.m. Sunday worship, as a "pick-up" choir, solo or ensemble. Rehearsal, Sundays, 8:00 a.m.

HandBells

Evening Bells
Our advanced handbell choir. We play once a month in worship services and for Christmas, Easter and other festivals. This excellent group of musicians will give several concerts this year in the wider community. A gift of the fourth octave of Schulmerich handbells has increased our range and added exciting sounds to the handbells. These ringers rehearse on Mondays 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Savior's Bells
For our more advanced high school students they rehearse on Mondays 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and offer their talents at the 10:30 a.m. worship.

God's Holy Bells
The next step in handbells for children, these elementary age children offer their music in worship each month. God's Holy Bells rehearses on Thursdays in the Fall from 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Ding-A-Lings
These elementary age children are just beginners to the handbells and rehearse on Thursdays in the Fall from 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. All are welcome.

Music Sundays @ Noon

Sacred Concert Series

Each professional concert was given to the church and community in the serene beauty of our sanctuary as a gift from our Sponsors and Contributors. Thank you for the excellence and highest caliber of music dedicated to God.
Soli Deo Gloria

The 2011-2012 series has 6 concerts. September, October, December, two in March and one in May

Upcoming March concerts:

March 11th, noon: Jim Russell, Tenor - Cristina Stenescu, Piano.
British and American Folksongs. Jim Russell is one of our favorite performers, in great demand. As a solo artist throughout the area. We are so fortunate to hear Jim in the comfort and beauty of our sanctuary. Please join us, and bring a friend!

March 28th at 7 pm - Lenten Concert - "The Crucifixion" by John Stainer. Presented by our Sanctuary Choir as a beautiful mediation on the crucifixion of our Lord. Please join us for this very moving Cantata, as we relive the Passion in sacred music.

Good Shepherd Family Theater

For the past four years, our youth choirs have presented musical productions, The Story Tellin' Man, Godspell,Angels Aware It's Cool in the Furnace followed by Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and most recently Scrooge under the direction of Brenda Ferguson. These are first-class sacred musicals that are a joy to the audience, and a life-long inspiration to the youth who participate.

Our Senior Choir was hard at work on a challenging Oratorio. This is a wonderful musical experience which was designed to enhance your Lenten journey of faith. This was a "semi-staged" Oratorio, in costume, with lights, in our lovely sanctuary, which, for the evening, became the Garden of Gethsemane, showcasing Beethoven ~ Mount of Olives

The Organ School

Private Classical pipe organ studies provided to gifted students who are active members of our Music Ministry, who will offer their talents during the Preludes as a gift to the church. To be arranged with organist. Currently there are nine full scholarship organ students (2 adults, 7 youth).