First Presbyterian Church is served by three different adult vocal choirs, a handbell choir, and a thriving children's music program, each contributing something unique to the life of our church. There are also short-term seasonal choirs for Christmas Eve and the summer months. Together these choirs lead our congregation in prayer and praise through music and offer a place for people of differing levels of musical background to offer their musical gifts to God and God's people.



The Chancel Choir is a 45-voice ensemble that rehearses on Wednesday evenings and sings Sundays from September through May at the 11:00 AM sanctuary service. Open to all interested adults, the group is composed of enthusiastic singers representing a wide variety of choral backgrounds and experiences. In addition to serving as the church’s flagship choir on Sunday mornings, the Chancel Choir also periodically offers concerts and performs larger choral-orchestral works. On December 9, 2019 they will be presenting Christmas portions of Handel’s Messiah, accompanied by orchestra and featuring soloists from the choir. Anyone interested in joining the Chancel Choir is warmly encouraged to contact Holt Andrews ([email protected]).


Genesis is a small choral ensemble that sings two Sundays a month at the 8:45 AM chapel worship service. Open to all and ideal for people who enjoy choral singing but whose schedule does not allow them to be a part of the Chancel Choir, the group meets before the services in which they sing to prepare the music for that day. Please contact Holt Andrews for more information.


The Chamber Singers at the 2019 Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC

The Chamber Singers is an ecumenical-30 voice choir that meets on Sunday evenings and performs about four times a year. Concerts in recent seasons have included Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living and the South Carolina premieres of Ola Gjeilo’s Sunrise Mass and Rosphanye Powell’s The Cry of Jeremiah, with the composer serving as narrator and soloist. In 2018 the group traveled to Washington, DC to sing a pre-Evensong concert at the National Cathedral, and in 2019 performed in Charleston, SC as part of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. Membership in the Chamber Singers is limited to preserve an appropriate balance of vocal parts, but anyone with interest is very much encouraged to contact Holt Andrews.


The Handbell Choir is open to anyone high-school age and above. The bell choir rehearses on Tuesday evenings September through May and plays at the 11:00 AM worship services about six times a year, as well as occasionally participating in festivals and events in the community. Experience is not required to join the group, and while the ability to read music is very helpful it is also not a requirement. Please contact Holt Andrews for more information.


The Summer Choir and the Christmas Eve Choir are both designed so that anyone high-school age and above will be able to participate as their schedules permit.

The Summer Choir runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Singers meet at 9:45 AM Sunday mornings to prepare music for that day’s 10:30 AM sanctuary service. Since the music for each Sunday service is “self-contained” in the rehearsal just prior, anyone who would like to sing can participate on any Sunday during the summer.

The Christmas Eve Choir rehearses twice in the week prior to Christmas. High school singers, college students home for the holidays, and any interested adults are invited to be a part of this choir, which has a very important role in one of the most anticipated worship services of the year. Check the church calendar for the Christmas Eve Choir schedule or contact Holt Andrews.


Children

First Steps in Music

Birth – 3 Years
Are you interested in learning how to sing and play with your baby? Do you long for some quality one-on-one time with your toddler? Join us for this 8-week class filled with fun and music. Space is limited to the first 10 people who register, and church members will be given preference for classes. Nursery available for siblings by reservation only.

Children's Choirs

4K – 5th Grade
Children's choirs meet on Wednesday evenings during the school year. Choirs for younger children concentrate on providing fun and enriching musical experiences with beginning vocal training and an introduction to the music of the church. Choirs for older children continue this emphasis while adding specific musical and vocal training, hymn education, instruments, and opportunities to sing in worship.
Joyful Sound - 4K (5:00 - 5:35 pm
Cherub Choir - 5K (5:00 - 5:45 pm)
Jr. Choristers - Grades 1-2 (5:00 - 5:45 pm)
Sr. Choristers - Grades 3-5 (5:00 - 5:45 pm)