Music Ministry 2024
St Martin’s Choir
Our church choir has provided awesome leadership in our music ministry throughout the year. We sing at the 10:30 am Eucharist each Sunday from September through May. This year we have grown to 20 members. This photo shows our fall retreat dinner. We continue to sing newly composed music such as I want to walk as a child of the light by Erik Dewar & Dan Forrest, as well as tried and true anthems such as a favorite Canticle of the Turning by Anne Krentz Organ.
Sopranos: Chelsea Brewer, Beckie Strobel, Candy Tierney, Beverly Kinkade (pt)
Altos: Kelly Barkey, Becky Brewer, Mary Drastal, Gail Schneider, Barbara Shearer, Chelsea Raiche (pt)
Tenors: Ginger Cornelius, Larry Cornelius, Ann Harbert, Ray Harbert, Mike Kelly
Basses: Doug Edmonson, John Lange, Drew Lawless, Chris Marsh, Scott Pattengill
St Martin’s Handbell Choir
Our handbell choir continues to accept the challenge of learning new music. Currently they are playing 3 octave music that requires several members to ring multiple bells. For Christmas, they played In Dulci Jubilo by Valerie Stephenson using both handbell ringing, malleting on bells, and handchime ringing. Earlier in 2024 they stood in a large circle around the nave and rang the progressive piece Joyful Processional by Margaret Tucker in which each ringer layered their own unique ringing pattern to make a joyful sound! Longtime member Larry Cornelius shares the following: The bell ringers at St. Martins are devoted and full of joy. We meet weekly to practice our songs of praise. Our music is made to uplift the congregation. We offer our simple melodies with pride. Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring out the grief that saps the mind Ring in the nobler modes of life, Ring out the want, the care, the sin, Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace. Ring in the common love of good. Ring in the Christ that is to be.
Members have included: Kelly Barkey, Becky Brewer, Chelsea Brewer, Ginger Cornelius, Larry Cornelius, Mary Drastal, Mopsi Hanley, Ann Harbert, Ray Harbert, Chris Marsh, Candy Tierney
Children’s Chapel Choir
Each Sunday during choir season the children at Children’s Chapel have music time during which they learn to sing new songs and play melody bells and rhythm instruments. The Chapel Choir sings and plays their songs for the congregation about once a month. This year, we began to learn how to play the adult handbell choir’s hand chimes. For Christmas, we played Away in a manger with hand chimes for the 5:00 pm Christmas Eve family service. Florence Raiche and Marketa Raiche also played Christmas solos on the piano.
Guest Musicians Throughout the year, St. Martin’s is fortunate to enjoy the talents of many musicians who enhance the music of our Eucharist. This year we have welcomed the following:
Boy Scout Troop 601 instrumental ensemble; Rambert Xu, piano; Cathy Smith, piano; Jackson Moeller, trumpet, Elle Wujcik, soprano; Parkway Central High Treble ensemble; Charlotte Elsensohn, flute; Nicolai McKinney, piano; Mars Kavadlo, mezzo; River Blenders Chorus; Olivia Limbaugh, mezzo; Nadia Maddex, soprano; Joy Floyd, oboe; Susan Hampton, cello; Ava O’Bryan, viola; Grace Li, violin; Julia Sakharova, violin; Clay McKinney, cello
St Martin’s Choir members comments:
Barbara Shearer, alto and Beckie Strobel, soprano are both relatively new members of our choir. Barbara writes: We were looking for a new church home, and then Covid happened. We found St. Martin's online, and what a joy it was to experience music as an integral part of the worship service, even if there was no in-person service and no choir! This truly spoke to our hearts. More joy has followed as a choir member, making music and experiencing worshipful moments with a fun and dedicated choir and an extremely gifted Music Director. Beckie Strobel writes: Being a member of St. Martin’s choir has meant the world to me. It has allowed me to meet some wonderful people, get back in touch with the musical side of myself, and stay regularly connected with an amazing church body. I am incredibly grateful to be a part of it.