Return of the Bethesda Choir
Dear Bethesda family,
As I write this article on the Fall Equinox, it is time to ramp up the music program to full speed. By the time you read it, I will be in the final hours of preparing for the first rehearsal of the Bethesda Choir. We’re back!
We are very grateful to all those who have volunteered for the Summer Choir. What splendid work they have done in leading us each Sunday!
Starting next week, the full Bethesda Choir will play their part in leading the 10:00 a.m. Eucharist from the choir stalls. Our repertoire list comprises a bumper program of new favorites and old favorites, with music dating from the Renaissance through living composers. Each musical setting of Scripture or sacred poetry has the potential to unlock some new insight into the day’s Lessons that God is calling us to hear, and we can’t wait to share it all with you. And, of course, there will be descants galore (those countermelodies that soar above the congregation in the last verse of all the festive hymns), meditations on psalms (in the form of Anglican chant), and the pageantry of processions and vestments. With several new members joining us, our spirits will sing!
You can join our Music Mailing List HERE to receive reminders of our musical highlights. In addition to the regular morning offerings, our Sunday evening services this year will include the Fauré Requiem, with orchestra, at our All Souls’ service November 2; Advent Lessons & Carols on December 7; and then our Spring Series of recitals & Evensongs will start each month. Our recitals will feature Australian organist Nicole Marane, the Concert Choir from Palm Beach Atlantic University, and a four-handed Mozart recital. Other special events include the annual Christmas Concert with orchestra and Tree Lighting reception on Wednesday, December 17; all the celebration of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; and in January, the Boar’s Head & Yule Log Festival returns again.
All of this is on top of our concert series. Do you have your tickets yet? Polyphony, “possibly the best small professional choir in the world,” will be here on Tuesday, October 28, and tickets are on sale now HERE. Or treat yourself to a Season Pass and get first choice of reserved seats for all our concerts, including the fabled choir of Westminster Abbey in April.
If you’d like to explore our full year’s program, you can see our sparkling new booklet HERE. Special thanks to our incredible Communications Director, Marisa Holliday, for designing this beautiful volume. Share it far and wide as another way to invite people to this special community.
Stuart.