Bethesda Choir

The Bethesda Choir is an auditioned choir, under the leadership of Harold E. Pysher, Associate to the Rector for Music and Liturgy. Our choir is well known and respected in the community for its fine singing and musicianship. While the choir offers music from all time periods and nationalities, much of its repertoire is derived from music written for the Anglican Church; composers such as Britten, Howells, Stanford, and Vaughan Williams are well represented during a choir season.

Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings from September through May. The choir sings on Sunday mornings at the 11 a.m. service, as well as at services on many Feast Days and Holy Days. From October through May, the choir provides leadership in our First-Sunday-of-the-month Evensong. There are generally several services during the year at which the choir sings music of a larger scale -- sometimes with orchestral accompaniment. The Bethesda Choir is the centerpiece of our annual Christmas Concert and Community Carol Sing and also plays a major role in our Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival.

You may reach Mr. Pysher at 655-4555, ext. 16

Bethesda Youth Choir

Our Youth Choir is under the leadership of Jessica Reed, Youth Choir Director. Girls, and boys with unchanged voices, from age 8 through high school are welcome in this choir, which provides leadership at the 9 a.m. Eucharist on Sunday mornings. In addition, they sing for services on Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Pentecost, and for other special services.

The Youth Choir at Bethesda-by-the-Sea participates in a Chorister Training Scheme developed many years ago by the Royal School of Church Music and modified for our use here at Bethesda. Each girl or boy must progress through a series of tests to reach one of three levels, represented by various colored ribbons. These tests have to do with musical knowledge (note values, names on the musical staff, sight-reading ability, etc.), the Church (parts of the church, seasons of the Church year, the order of the service, etc.), and other tests of a more general nature (getting music in order for rehearsal, hanging choir vestment neatly after services, being able to follow the leaflet, etc.).

The Youth Choir rehearses on Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00 p.m. For further information, or to learn more about involvement in the choir, please call Miss Reed at 655-4555, ext. 50.