Music & Choirs

This is Westminster’s adult choir, devoted to advanced choral repertoire and to leading the music of worship, typically at the 11:00 service, each week. The choir will also lead choral evensongs and sing major works with orchestra.

Repertoire for this choir includes music written for English handbells as well as transcriptions. Occasionally members of this group will accompany other choirs. Many techniques of ringing are utilized, including four-in-hand ringing. Anyone who has the ability to read music is invited to participate.

Kinder Choir, for ages 3-5, develops their young voices, rhythm and pitch matching through engaging songs and music games.  The energy of this age group is focused with appropriate movement and early solfège (do, re, mi) training.  This opportunity is offered periodically through the program year.

Primary Choir is an opportunity for grades K-2 to develop their voices and learn the basics of reading music through games and activities.  They learn solfége, hymns, service music, and anthems for participation in worship services.  

Treble Choir is for girls and boys with unchanged voices in grades 3-12.  This choir sings anthems alone and with the Chancel Choir throughout the program year.  They learn about vocal technique, music theory, and the church year in a fun and engaging environment. 

Rehearsal time:  Sundays, 3:45- 5:00 p.m. 

Westminster Church enjoys music for brass frequently throughout the year. Repertoire from five centuries is played by this choir of brass players college-age and older.

An organ recital series, Musica Organi is now in its tenth season, bringing organists from around the world to Knoxville and East Tennessee. The congregation and the community are cordially invited and admission is without charge.

Richards, Fowkes & Company’s Opus 7 organ was installed in the main sanctuary and voiced beginning in September 1998. It was dedicated the following May with a recital given by Robert Clark, who served as the consultant. The organ is 33 ranks, with 25 stops on two manuals and pedal. It is strongly influenced by the work of Arp Schnitger and the North German/Dutch tradition and yet reflects an eclecticism that successfully supports the wide range of musical demands placed on it by the many periods of church music included in worship and concerts at Westminster.

Westminster also has a lovely organ in the back gallery of the Chapel/Fellowship Hall (the original sanctuary of the church). Marty and Frank Marsh gave it to Westminster in 1969 in loving memory of their daughter, Cathy Marsh, who was killed in an automobile accident in 1968. The organ was dedicated on Easter Sunday of 1969. Alfred E.Lunsford of the Schantz Organ Company built the instrument, modeled after North German and Dutch organs of the Baroque period, combining a Schantz console and German pipework. Its 14 ranks of pipes appear as 12 stops on two manuals and pedal.

More information about Musica Organi can be found at www.musicaorgani.org.

This is an account funded by gifts from friends and members of Westminster Church to make possible concerts and other special musical events.