The Programmatic Year Has Begun!

The 2026-2027 programmatic year started this week. It was a terrific week of meaningful and productive rehearsals. Pictured below is our Cherub Choir. We had a wonderful Wednesday learning about each other, learning about the basics of rhythm, discovering each young voice, and learning a piece which will be performed on September 27th with the Emmanuel Choir, Choristers, and Red Door Ringers. If your child(ren), aged 4 through grade 2, has an interest in music, fun, or friendship, the Cherub Choir is for them! Membership is open all year.

The Emmanuel Choir welcomed three new members this past week. We rehearsed anthems familiar and new, and outlined the year which is filled with great musical offerings. Again, membership is open all year, so if you are ready to get back into the choir loft, or try it for the first time, please reach out. The choir is one of the most welcoming groups you’ll ever encounter and the time spent in service to the church is fulfilling and rewarding.

The Choristers are back! Most of our young singers took a break this summer, but I was thrilled to have six choristers in rehearsal this week. I’m excited for them to learn some of the best choral repertoire known and continue to watch their growth as musicians and people. Again, new choristers are always welcome.

The Red Door Ringers had their first rehearsal on Thursday. We started the year off with two pieces from our past, and the result was stunning. Not only was it a successful first rehearsal because of the tenure of many of our ringers, but their skills have been developed in amazing ways because of our annual retreats to Lutheridge for enrichment. Moreover though, the addition of many new handbells and handchimes in the past few years, has absolutely transformed the music we are able to offer. To hear these familiar tunes, now enhanced with the bells and chimes now available to us, is like hearing the music for the very first time. A special thank you to the donors who have made this possible.

Lastly, our Bach’s Lunch Concert Series kicked off with a great program by John Hatcher and City Lights Jazz. If you missed it, you missed something truly wonderful. Please be aware that most of our Bach’s Lunch Concerts will not be recorded or livestreamed. Music is best experienced live, and that truth includes both performer and listener. Our Bach’s Lunch Concert Series is an opportunity for respite and inspiration in a beautiful sacred space. Come, and join us.

The programmatic schedule for the musical year is below. I hope you will make some of these opportunities part of your connection to our parish, and a chance to be in community together.

Sunday, October 11th, 5 P.M.

Choral Evensong - Emmanuel Choir

•Friday, October 16th, Noon

Dr. Homer A. Ferguson III, organ

•Sunday, November 1st, 5 P.M.

Fauré Requiem - Emmanuel Choir

•Friday, November 6th, Noon

Newnew Hong, piano

•Friday, December 4th, Noon

Brody Bett, organ

•Sunday, December 6th, 5 P.M.

Advent Lessons and Carols - Emmanuel Choir

•Friday, January 29th, Noon

Mid-Century Modern (Gessner, Murphy, Arnold)

•Friday, February 5th, Noon

Treblemakers (Youth Strings)

•Sunday, February 7th, 5 P.M.

Choral Evensong - Emmanuel Choir

Friday, March 12th, Noon

The Red Door Ringers (Handbells)

•Sunday, March 21st, 5 P.M.

Crucifixion by John Stainer - Emmanuel Choir •Friday, April 9th, Noon

4HANDS Piano Duo (Henckel & Virelles)

•Friday, May 7th, Noon

The New Horizons Band & Swing Band

•Sunday, May 16th, 5 P.M.

Choral Evensong - The Emmanuel Choir