CHANCEL CHOIR
The Chancel Choir leads worship each week at the 11:00 AM worship service and for special occasions. This is a dedicated group that rehearses each Wednesday evening from 7:30 to 9 p.m. and on Sunday mornings in the sanctuary at 10 a.m. The choral repertoire is selected from a mixture of all musical periods from the Renaissance through contemporary works. The choir is regularly accompanied by our instrumentalists, piano and organ, but frequently sings a cappella as well. Leadership in the worship hour includes introits, responses, descants to the hymns and anthems.

During the year, the Chancel Choir (and friends who join us for these special occasions) leads worship through a Music Sunday.

A Sunday in Advent - a sacred Christmas work.

- 2007 (Dec. 9) - Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi

- 2006 (Dec. 17) - Christmas Cantata by Daniel Pinkham (for choir, brass and organ)

- 2005 (Dec. 4) - Gloria by Francis Poulenc

- 2004 (Dec. 12) - Christmas Oratorio by Camille Saint-Saens (for soloists, choir, organ, harp and strings)

- 2003 (Dec. 14) - A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten (for choir and harp)

- 2002 (Dec. 15) - Gloria by John Rutter (for soloists, choir, brass, percussion and organ)

A Sunday in Lent - a sacred Lenten/Easter work.

- 2007 (April 29) - Mass in C Minor by Mozart (for choir and orchestra)

- 2006 (April 9) - Requiem by Gabriel Fauré

- 2005 (April 24) - Coronation Mass by Mozart

- 2004 (March 21) - Requiem by John Rutter (for soloists, choir and chamber orchestra)

- 2003 (March 16) - Mass in G by Schubert (for soloists, choir, strings and organ)

In addition to their regular SATB choral anthems, the members of the choir frequently join other members of the congregation to lead worship through:

- SOUTHMINSTER SINGERS: an SATB group that rehearses on Tuesday evenings for about 10 weeks prior to a special concert to sing and study a major work(s) and to combine with the Chancel Choir for an evening performance.  On December 2, 2007, the combined group will perform Gloria (Vivaldi) and Christmas Oratorio (Saint-Saens) at 7:30 p.m.

- SOLOS: both at the 8:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services and for special occasions.

- MEN'S CHOIR: There is a great repertoire for men's voices in 3 and 4 parts and it is sometimes a great opportunity for fellowship and a new experience to join together with this combination of voices.

- WOMEN'S CHOIR: As with the men's repertoire, the women's voices blend together for different and sometimes challenging combinations of voices. We break into these smaller choirs on occasion and ask others who do not regularly sing with the choir to join for a short-term commitment.

- QUARTETS and OCTETS: Blending a small number of voices in an SATB anthem is a special challenge and several members love to sing in this combination for our early worship services.

Page last updated:03/31/08