 Music
Greetings from First Church in Wenham!! We have a diversified and interesting music program here at First Church. Senior Choir is open to all singers ages 14 and older and provides choral music most frequently at First Church, enhancing Sunday worship with anthems and other liturgical music of diverse styles and genres. This ensemble of moderate to advanced singers meets each Thursday from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Upper Hall for rehearsals.
Chamber Choir is drawn from the Senior Choir roster and sings in Sunday worship once or twice a month, performing repertoire that is tailored to the strengths and abilities of a smaller ensemble. Anyone in the Senior Choir may also be a member of Chamber Choir if they so choose.
We also have a Cherub Choir (pre-school through first grade), and a Junior Choir for students in grades 2-5. The Cherub and Junior Choirs meet after worship on Sundays for rehearsal and sing approximately once a month during worship. The students receive musical training in solfege, hand chimes and other musical skills, and perform age-appropriate repertoire in a variety of styles. The choirs at First Church are open to anyone that has a joyful heart and loves to sing. There is no experience and no audition required. Please come join us!! Interested singers may email Abby Frost, choral director, at frostabby@yahoo.com for more information.
MUSIC STAFF
Abby Frost, Choir Director, grew up outside of St. Paul, MN, and studied music at Luther College in Iowa. She has served in churches around the country since 2001, and taught three years of middle school choral music in Mason City, Iowa. Recently, Abby completed her master’s degree in choral conducting at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Abby is also the choral and general music teacher at Miles River Middle School in Hamilton, MA. Please contact Abby if you would like more information about First Church Music or are interested in singing in one of our choirs: frostabby@yahoo.com.
Joe Stroup, has been the organist and pianist at First Church since 1986. He is a graduate of Ohio’s Oberlin College School of Music with a degree in Organ Performance. His varied musical career on the North Shore has included regular performances with the New England Light Opera Company, with whom he recently recorded the sound-tracks for two of their original productions, as well as guest appearances with the Boston University Chorale, the Salem State College Chorus, and the Hillyer Festival Orchestra. At Suffolk University in Boston, Joe has been the accompanist for the past three seasons and, in 2009, will be Music Directing as well. Joe is on the faculty of the Performing Arts Department at the Landmark School in Prides Crossing, where he teaches piano and accompanies the chorus'. He is a Board Member and contributing editor to the Boston Singers Resource website.
ORGAN AND PIANO
The organ at First Church was built by the Schantz Organ Company of Orrville, Ohio and is their Opus #2233. It was installed in the sanctuary in February of 2004. It has electro-pneumatic action and is composed of 26 ranks over two manuals. The 1,576 pipes are placed at the front of the sanctuary in a case designed by Eric Gastier.
The piano at First Church is an S-class studio Steinway (5’ 6”) which was built in 1937. It was purchased privately by the church in 1992 from gifts and donations, as part of the church’s 350th anniversary celebration in 1993. The action was rebuilt and the original ivory keys were restored in 2008.
2012-2013 Music Board members include Don DeBlock, Chair; Jamie Cabot, Emily Hayden, Cecilia Mullings, Bryan Schmidt and Cindy Soper.
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