Music Ministry

Music Ministry
Trent Johnson, Director of Music

Importance of Music and Arts

Pipe Organs

Choirs

Instrumental Groups

Oratorio Singers

Concert Series

Importance of Music and Arts

Here at the First United Methodist Church of Westfield, we highly value music and the arts as an integral part of worship. Under the leadership of Trent Johnson, Director of Music and Arts, the congregation, choirs of children, youth and adults, and instrumentalists gather together as a community to worship. The great music of the Christian Church inspires and uplifts worshippers weekly. From the music of Bach to Bernstein, from Routely to Rutter, from Hopson and Robert Ray to the music of Duke Ellington, from world music, Taizé and spirituals, to music written yesterday, music of all kinds is a part of our experience. Dramas, especially those written for children also play an important role in the life of our church.

Pipe Organs

We are fortunate to have wonderful pipe organs to lead our worship services. These instruments have led us in song, worship and in concert. The chancel instrument is a 54 rank organ installed by the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company of Boston, Massachusetts in 1959. The specifications of this organ were prepared by Joseph Whiteford and John Tyrell in consultation with Wilma Jensen. Tonal finishing was under the direction of Arthur Birchall. The antiphonal organ in the balcony has 12 ranks and was installed by the Möller Organ Company of Hagerstown, Maryland in 1975. The chancel organ has three keyboards and pedal and can control both the chancel and antiphonal organs. The antiphonal organ has two keyboards and pedal and controls only the antiphonal organ. Preludes and postludes played on our pipe organs or by guest artists also enrich the worship experience.

Choirs

CHERUB CHOIR The Cherub Choir for children ages three through five lays a foundation and appreciation for the church and its music in gentle and joyful ways. The children rehearse during Church School on Sunday mornings and sing in church about once every 6 weeks.

WESLEY CHOIR The Wesley Choir for children in grades one through five rehearses as a normal part of Church School. The rehearsals take place from 10:10 -10:30 a.m. each Sunday in the choir room. This choir sings in church about once every 4 weeks.

GATHERING TIME As part of church school, teachers lead a monthly gathering time sing-a-long for children ages 3 through 5^th grade approximately once a month on Sunday morning at 10:10AM.

YOUTH CHOIR The Youth Choir for young adults in junior and senior high school meets as part of Youth Fellowship. When preparing for participation in worship, the youth choir meets on Sunday evenings, from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.

SANCTUARY CHOIR The Sanctuary Choir is made up of adults and young adults. The group rehearses weekly on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 p. m. and sings weekly at the 10:45 traditional worship service. Typically, this choir sings with organ accompaniment or a cappella. For special occasions including All Saints Sunday and Easter, a variety of guest instrumentalists add the sounds of flutes, clarinets, trumpets, and timpani to the celebration.

Instrumental Groups

PRAISE BAND The Praise Band is an ensemble of instruments and voices that presents contemporary Christian music during worship services. Made up of young adults and adults, the group rehearses at a mutually convenient time.

YOUTH HANDBELL CHOIR The Youth Handbell Choir consists of youth in grades six through twelve. Those who read music and have instrumental backgrounds are strongly encouraged to participate. This ensemble meets at a mutually convenient time.

ADULT HANDBELL CHOIR Adults interested in the Adult Handbell Choir should speak to the Music Director. The group will meet at a mutually convenient time.

FIFE AND DRUM CORPS The Fife and Drum Corps, in existence since 1976, is an ensemble of fifers and drummers who perform music from revolutionary times in America’s history. The Fife and Drum Corps performs regularly at parades, national holidays, special events and competitions. Comprised of children and youth (ages 9-18), rehearsals take place on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. Participants receive instruction in fifing, drumming and marching for a low monthly tuition. The Fife and Drum Corps has won numerous prizes in many competitions statewide and has toured throughout the northeast United States. Colonial uniforms are provided for all participants and scholarships are given to graduating seniors. For more information, please contact John Daley through the church office.

Oratorio Singers

For those who enjoy the challenge of large musical projects, there is the Oratorio Singers, a large community wide chorus that performs the great masterworks with professional soloists and orchestra. Since 1979 the Oratorio Singers have presented to sold -out audiences works such as: Bach’s Mass in B Minor, Magnificat, and St. John and St. Matthew Passions, the Requiems of Mozart, Brahms, Verdi, and Dvorak, Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast, Haydn’s Creation, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Dello Joio’s To St. Cecelia, the premiere of Trent Johnson’s cantata The Paschal Lamb, Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Lobgesang, Elgar’s The Music Makers and Handel’s Messiah and Judas Maccabaeus, among many other works. Conducted by Trent Johnson, the Oratorio Singers rehearse from January until March on Monday evenings from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. The concert takes place in March during the Lenten season. Additional Oratorio Singer information is available on the group’s homepage: http://www.westfieldnj.com/oratorio/.

Concert Series

Two concert series provide high quality entertainment and reach out to the wider community. The Coffee with Conscience Concert Series brings in national singer/songwriters who entertain us and raise money for local charities. The Friday Night Concert Series presents an eclectic variety of music and special events in the summer and fall months.

COFFEE WITH CONSCIENCE The Coffee with Conscience Concert Series, presented by Ahrre’s Coffee Roastery in Westfield, features top singer/songwriters from around the country in a coffee house setting. Only high-caliber artists who are professional singer/songwriters touring and promoting their recorded music are invited to perform. Some of the talent featured to date includes: GrooveLily, Tom Prasada-Rao, David Roth, Danzig and Wooley, Chris and Meredith Thompson, and Dan Crisci among many others. The Concert Series is in its fifth season, and while featuring top talent, also supports local charities. The proceeds from each concert are donated to a designated charity selected from the following list: The Interfaith Council for the Homeless, The Eric Johnson House, Habitat for Humanity, The Community Foodbank of NJ and the AIDS Memorial Quilt (The Names Project of Central New Jersey). The Coffee with Conscience Concert Series is a ten show series taking place at the First United Methodist Church on the third Saturday evening of each month, at 8 p.m. from September through June. For more information visit www.CoffeeWithConscience.com or call Ahrre Maros at (908) 522-1501.

FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT SERIES The Friday Night Concert Series presents an eclectic variety of music and special events in the summer and fall months. Concerts begin at 7:30 p. m. and include performances ranging from Dixieland and Big Bands to Jazz Ensembles and Barbershop Quartets. A grand time is had by all!

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