Feb. 2008 Music Ministry Report
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The Adult Choir started its season on September 9 and has continued to achieve new musical heights since then.  We have averaged roughly 9 persons per Sunday since the start of the choir season in September, and as always, we consistently hope for more members!  I would like to encourage anyone with a desire to praise God through song to speak to me about joining the choir.  Exceptional musical ability is not a requirement; dedication and love for music are.  And we can always use more basses!

We welcomed, last spring, two new section leaders, Amanda Sidebottom (soprano) and Adam Carman (tenor).  They are still with us and have greatly enriched our music program.  Alto section leader, Harriet Kapner, continues to enhance our music at Christ Church after over twenty years of service.  We are still searching for a permanent bass section leader after Henry Lackowksi retired last June.  And we have gained some dedicated, new volunteers in the past year, which is always very exciting.

In addition to the Adult Choir, the Junior Choir has been working diligently since September.  However, we have decided to implement some positive changes in the structure of this part of our music program.  This includes meeting immediately after the 10 a. m. service each Sunday in the church for a rehearsal.  Our rehearsals will focus largely on learning music fundamentals: reading music, sight-reading, and voice production.  Additionally, we will rehearse music for the Sundays on which the choir sings.  Instead of singing once a month, and in order to accommodate our new “music education” program, the choir will sing less frequently but will be better equipped to make music through the knowledge of the basics involved.

We have received generous contributions to special music at Christmas, Easter, and on Mother’s Day.  For those, we are continually grateful.

Finally, I want to point out a few musical resources that provide insight into the music program and the music itself that is heard at Christ Church.  The first is the music notes in each Sunday’s bulletin.  It is my desire that they be informative, particularly for those with a limited knowledge of music history, but also for those who simply wish to know more about a particular anthem or organ piece.  The second resource is the music part of the parish’s website.  Thanks to the technical wizardry and generous time donation of Bruce Sternemann, the Christ Church’s website serves as a source of enlightenment on parish events.  I encourage each of you to visit the music portion of that website.  Here you can find information on our music program, including a complete list of choir anthems through the last Sunday of the choir season.  So in case you are interested to see what the choir has in store for future Sundays, check out this great resource. 

Thank you for your support.  It is my pleasure to serve as organist/choirmaster of this parish.

 

Sincerely,

Kyle Babin

 

3 February 2008