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Music and the Performing Arts
Music is commanded in Scripture! The innumerable times we are commanded to "sing to the Lord" or "come into his presence with singing" make it apparent that God must enjoy music. The Music Ministry of First Presbyterian is under the direction of Steven R. Jobman, Minister of Music, and Ruth E. Baker, Assistant Music Director and Organist.
The Bix Sunday Choral Ensemble.
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Govenor Tom Vilsack (left), Steven R. Jobman (center), Mrs. Vilsack (right).
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Iowa Arts Council Award
Rejoice & Sing! First Presbyterian Church’s national PBS-TV Christmas Concert broadcast, Rejoice & Sing: A Holiday Celebration, was honored with a Regional Arts Build Communities Award. The Iowa Arts Council Board of Directors recognized all award winners at a gala concert celebrating the arts and artists of Iowa in Des Moines, Iowa, in February. Both Ruth E. Baker and Steven R. Jobman, as well as Jane Magnusson and Rick Best were present to accept the award.
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The Program
The fully-graded program currently has eight singing choirs: the Sanctuary Choir, the Chamber Chorale, the Celebration Singers, the Jubilation Singers, the Kirkwood Choir, the Cathedral Choir of Young Men and Boys, the Cecelian Carolers, and the Cherub Choir.
The program also offers four handbell choirs: the Vesper Bells, the Celebration Ringers, and the Kirkwood Ringers.
The music ministry's mission extends far beyond the worship leadership it provides. The Performing Arts Series creates major musical productions and hosts famous musicians from around the United States and Europe. An all volunteer Support Staff of nearly twenty provides the leadership to make the Performing Arts Series possible.
The motto that the Music Ministry has adopted as its own is: "Excellence in all things, and all things to God's Glory!"
For more information regarding music ministry at First Presbyterian Church, contact Steven R. Jobman, Minister of Music, at jobman@fpcdavenport.org or by phone at 563-383-0657, ext. 201.
The Singing Choirs of First Church!
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The Sanctuary Choir and orchestra
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Sanctuary Choir
The renowned 110-voice adult choir rehearses on Thursdays at 7:00 PM. In addition to providing music for worship, the Sanctuary Choir sings yearly in the Performing Arts Series for the Christmas Concert and the Good Friday Tenebrae. This choir is also featured annually with the Quad City Symphony on the Holiday Pops Concert at The Mark civic center in Moline.
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Chamber Chorale
The Chamber Chorale is an adult group, auditioned from the membership of the Sanctuary Choir. This 24-member group rehearses on Sundays at 11:15 AM, for an hour. The chorale has quickly established an outstanding reputation in the Quad Cities, recognized for its excellence in diction, tone, and interpretation.
Celebration Singers
The 35-member, SATB choir for high school students, ninth through twelfth grades, rehearses on Sundays, from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. The Celebration Singers enjoy an even number of boys and girls, many of whom have been honored with invitations to sing in the Iowa All-State Chorus. Their outstanding musical achievements have been recognized with appearances on the church's televised Christmas Concert, and with an invitation to be the back-up choir for Barry Manilow at The Mark.
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Cathedral Choir of Young Men and Boys
The Cathedral Choir, which consists of 30 members, is an auditioned choir for males in grades 3 through 12, already actively involved in the music ministry of the church. The choir sings in SATB voice ranges and is patterned in sound and style after the cathedral and university choirs of Great Britain. They wear traditional English vestments-dark red cassocks with Florentine cathedral cottas. Rehearsals are Sundays, from 4:00 to 5:30 PM.
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Jubilation Singers
Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders form the membership of this choir, and rehearse on Wednesdays, from 6:45 to 7:30 PM. The Jubilation Singers boasts a membership of over 40 middle school youth! Christian education, score reading, part singing, and vocal production are all emphasized in this choir.
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Cecelian Carolers
Formed during the 1999-2000 season, the Cecelian Carolers a 30-member choir, is the newest choral ensemble of First Presbyterian Church. It is a select group of girls, drawn through auditions from girls in grades six through twelfth already actively involved in the music ministry of the church.
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The Cecelian Carolers (named for the female patron saint of music) was created at the request of the girls as the female counterpart of the Cathedral Choir. The girls wear purple velvet robes with white satin rabat collars which were a generous gift from church member, Jane Magnusson. They rehearse on Wednesdays, from 7:30 to 8:30 PM.
Kirkwood Choir
All second through fifth graders are invited to sing with the Kirkwood Choir. Rehearsals are Wednesdays, from 6:00 to 6:45 PM. As with the Jubilation Singers, Christian education, score reading, part singing, and vocal production are emphasized in this choir.
Cherub Choir
The Sunday School membership of four-year-olds, Kindergartners, and first graders sing in the Cherub Choir. Rehearsals are Sundays at 10:00 AM, for twenty minutes. It is never too early to learn to sing God's praises at First Presbyterian Church!
The Ringing (Handbell) Choirs of First Presbyterian!
Vesper Bells
The adult handbell choir of the church, the Vesper Bells, is an auditioned ensemble of thirteen players who ring a five-octave set of Schulmerich handbells, a five-octave set of Whitechapel handbells and a three-octave set of Suzuki Choir chimes. They ring regularly for worship, and have also been featured in special concerts and community events. The Vesper Bells rehearse from 6:00 to 7:00 PM on Thursdays.
Jubilation Ringers
The handbell choir for youth meets on Mondays, from 7:00 to 7:45 PM, under the direction of Ruth E. Baker. The choir's membership is drawn from those already involved in the Jubilation and Celebration Singers. Advanced handbell techniques and score reading are taught and refined in this ensemble.
Kirkwood Ringers
The handbell choir for elementary children meets on Wednesdays, from 5:15 to 5:45 PM. The Kirkwood Ringers membership is drawn from those young people already involved in the Kirkwood Choir. Beginning handbell techniques and score reading are taught in this ensemble.
For more information regarding bellchoirs at First Presbyterian Church, contact Ruth E. Baker, Assistant Director of Music, at baker@fpcdavenport.org
or by phone at 563-383-0657, ext. 211.
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The Performing Arts Series 2007 - 2008
The Sixteenth Captivating Season!
BYE BYE BIRDIE
The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical!
Reserved seating - Saturday, April 12, 2008, 7:30 pm and Sunday, April 13, 2008, 4:00 pm
Adults $12 Students $8
ELISABETH VON TRAPP - THE SOUND OF MUSIC CONTINUES!
The granddaughter of Baron and Maria Von Trapp!
Reserved seating - Sunday, April 20, 2008, 4:00 pm
Adults $12 Students $8
Ticket Package Information:
Patron Series -- Pair $150 Patron Series -- Single $75
The Patron Series Ticket program provides an avenue for individuals to support the Performing Arts Series to a greater degree than the Series Tickets. Patron Series benefactors will receive reserved seating, priority for Christmas Concert complimentary tickets and recognition for the patronage.
Series Tickets -- $40 Student Series -- $20
The Series Ticket program provides an $8 ($12 for students) savings over individual ticket prices and priority for Christmas Concert complimentary tickets.
PATRON RENEWAL TICKET order forms will be mailed the first week in August; NEW PATRON TICKETS are available beginning August 26, 2007; SERIES TICKETS are available beginning
September 16, 2007; and INDIVIDUAL TICKETS are available beginning September 30, 2007.
For more information regarding the Performing Arts Series at First Presbyterian Church,
contact Steven R. Jobman, Minister of Music, at jobman@fpcdavenport.org
or by phone at 563-383-0657, ext. 201.
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New CD Recording Just Released!
"Now available!
This 2-CD set includes well over 30 sacred classics as sung by the Sanctuary Choir, the Cecelian Carolers and the Cathedral Choir of Young Men and Boys.
The cost is $20 for the 2-CD collection and is available from the church office during normal business hours and on Sunday mornings in Fellowship Hall between the worship services. Make your Christmas gift giving plans NOW!
Your gift giving can now be completed with one stop at First Presbyterian Church.
For more information regarding the CD's, contact the church office by phone at 563-383-0657, ext. 200.
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