Music Ministry

APC Youth Choir 2007-2008

Sunday Worship | Opportunities for All | Serving Our Community | Seasonal Services | 100 Years of Ministry | Printable Music Brochure

The great reformer, Martin Luther, called music "a fair and glorious gift of God." Our Music Ministry gratefully acknowledges this valuable gift, and aspires to lead our congregation in the high calling of praising God, as revealed through Christ Jesus.

Adult, handbell, youth, children’s and cherub choirs, soloists, and the sounds of organ, piano and other instruments are a regular part of worship services. APC also hosts special choral services, hymn festivals and concerts, featuring APC choirs, guest choirs, and/or instrumentalists.

Sunday Worship

APC celebrates worship in the Reformed tradition each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. (10:00 a.m. in summer months). Here our faith community gathers to sing, pray, hear God's word, and be empowered to serve others. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper is observed several Sundays per year and at Wednesday evening vesper services in November and during Lent.

Our Chancel Choir sings weekly in worship and is lead by professional section leaders:

• Christine DeVault, soprano
• Courtney Capriotti, mezzo-soprano
• Robert McClung, tenor
• Jeff DeVault, baritone

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Opportunities for All

Under the leadership of Gary Garletts, the APC Music Ministry includes choir opportunities for all ages.

• Chancel Choir (adults) volunteers with professional section leaders, sings weekly in worship (September-early June) and presents two cantatas or choral services. Rehearsals are Thursdays, 7:30-9:00 p.m. Rehearsals start September 4, 2008
• Handbell Choir (adults) plays occasionally in worship and rehearses Wednesdays, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Basic music reading skills are helpful for new members. Rehearsals start September 10, 2008
• Youth Choir (grades 6-12) sings periodically in worship, including an annual Youth Choir Sunday and other projects (musicals, travel, etc.). They rehearse Sundays, 11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Rehearsals start September 14, 2008
• Children's Choir (grades 2-5) sings periodically, and Cherub Choir (pre-K to grade 1) sings occasionally in worship. Both choirs rehearse during "Wednesday PLUS," 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays during the school year. Rehearsals start September 10, 2008
• Men's and Women's Choruses give adults who cannot rehearse weekly a chance to sing.  Rehearsals begin 45 minutes before worship.  Women's Chorus sings in worship December 28 & May 10; Men's Chorus sings January 25 & June 21.

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Serving Our Community

APC is proud to be the concert venue for the high school choirs of Haverford Township. Marsha Bobnak directs the Concert Chorale and award-winning Chamber Singers. This year’s concerts are Sunday, January 11 (3:00 p.m.) and Sunday, May 3 (7:30 p.m.).

This year APC will become the rehearsal home of the Main Line Youth Chamber Orchestra. Artistic Director Xiao-Fu Zhou and Conductor Sarah Sutton lead over 50 musicians in junior and senior ensembles. Ms. Sutton will perform a viola recital to benefit the orchestra and APC (date TBD).

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Seasonal Services

Advent/Christmas

• Advent Family Night (Sunday, December 7, 5:00-7:00 p.m.)
• Nativity Tableau & Caroling (Sunday, December 14, 10:30 a.m.)
• Chester County Choral Society, Vivaldi's "Gloria" (Sunday, December 14, 3:00 p.m.)
• Chancel Choir, Handel's Messiah (Sunday, December 21, 10:30 a.m.)
• Christmas Eve (Wed, December 24)
  • Family Service - 7:00 p.m.
  • Lessons and Carols - 11:00 p.m.

Holy Week/Easter

• Maundy Thursday (April 9, 7:30 p.m.)
• Good Friday (April 10, 7:30 p.m.)
• Easter Sunday (April 12)
  • Youth Chapel Service - 8:30 a.m.
  • Sanctuary Service - 10:30 a.m.
    (Brass/organ prelude at 10:00 a.m.)

Other Special Services

• Consecration Sunday and Annual Three-Choir Anthem (Sunday, November 2, 10:30 a.m.)
• Fall Vespers (Wednesdays in November, 7:30 p.m.)
• Lenten Vespers (Wednesdays, February 25 - April 8, 7:30 p.m.)
• Annual Youth Choir Sunday with Trinity Presbyterian (Arlington) Youth (Sunday, March 22, 10:30 a.m.)
• Chancel Choir, Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass with St. Paul's Lutheran Choir - at APC (Sunday, April 26, 4:00 p.m.)
• Children’s and Youth Musical (Sunday, May 3, 12:00 noon)

See photos of The 2007 Youth/Children Spring Musical in Youth

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100 Years of Ministry

From its founding in 1907, APC has valued an excellent music program. Most strongly associated with this tradition was Claribel Thomson, who served as organist/choir director from 1938 to 1990. Known for her exacting manner, she led a professional vocal quartet for Sunday services, and a volunteer choir for occasional choral services. After her retirement, Clair Rozier expanded the choral program, including multiple vocal and handbell choirs, and began what is now the Claribel Thomson Memorial Music Fund.

This year Gary Garletts marks his 10th year as Director of Music/Organist, and his 30th year in professional music leadership. Gary leads the Chancel Choir (including professional quartet), Youth, Children's and Handbell Choirs. Choir member Janet Abel leads the Cherub Choir, and other members assist with Children’s and Cherub Choirs.

Gary administered a rebuilding of the church’s 1959 Moeller organ by Luley and Associates. The organ now includes 60 pipe and two digital ranks, and is tonally similar to an English cathedral organ. Gary is also Artistic Director of the Chester County Choral Society, whose members augment the Chancel Choir on special occasions.

In observance of the church's centennial anniversary (2007), the Chancel Choir toured Scotland and Northern England, singing at Greyfriars Kirk (Edinburgh), Iona Abbey, and York Minster. The church also commissioned Arlen Clarke to compose an anthem, "The Call," which reflected on the call of the church’s first pastor (Dr. Rawson) while articulating the church’s centennial theme, "Our Life, Our Heritage."

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For upcoming musical events also see Calendar