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Adult Choir: Larry Nelson, Music Director Stanley Littleton, Organist |
The First Presbyterian Church Choir is dedicated to the preparation and performance of appropriate Christian choral music to enhance and enrich the services of worship scheduled throughout the liturgical year. Our choir boasts a membership of 20 active singers -a number of whom are outstanding soloists (several with degrees in voice). Since most of our members are busy professional people (teachers, college faculty and administrators, realtors), not all are able to be present for every service; therefore, from among the WONDERFUL TWENTY, we are usually able to count on 10 to 12 for each service. Any member of our church (or attending non-members) who can sing the correct notes IN TUNE and preferably, can read music is welcome and encouraged to participate. Join us for a rehearsal at 5:15 p.m. any Wednesday so that the director can verify that a prospective member meets the minimal requirements, and the rest is easy! Our choir director, Larry Nelson, has over four decades of successful teaching experience in voice and choral music, and will help you learn and improve your musical skills if you are willing to devote yourself to the process! Under Larry's supportive and inspired leadership our choir sings a sophisticated traditional choral literature usually performed only in much larger churches. For over twenty years the musical life of the First Presbyterian Church has been blessed by the ministry of Stanley Littleton at our organ. His talents not only bless us through his organ voluntaries, but also through the leadership which he gives to our congregational singing. {Stanley didn't write this!} He has studied piano and organ with Lois Jones, Charles Calkin and Harald Rohlig. |
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JuBELLees: Charlotte Hunter, Director |
The handbell choir of First Presbyterian was organized in 2004 after the purchase of an initial two-octave set of handbells. The third octave was added soon afterwards. A group of 8 active ringers meets on Wednesday evenings at 5:45 p.m. to practice handbell selections in preparation for ringing once a month during the worship service. More handbell ringers and substitutes are always needed. Anyone interested in giving "ringing" a try should contact Charlotte Hunter. |
| Our Austin Organ |
Small but mighty, the First Presbyterian Church organ was built by the Austin Organ Company as their Opus 1885 in 1935. It was a typical product of its time featuring an enormous Open Diapason 8' of ~fog-horn~ scale and no upper work save for a very small Flute d'Amour 4' that while beautiful, was softer than any of the 8' stops. Three of the instrument's five ranks were duplexed on both manuals. In 1981 thanks to a generous gift from her family in memory of Shelley Symonds McGehee the 8' Open Diapason and 4' Flute were replaced with new ranks voiced by Richard J. Piper of Austin Organs, Inc. In 1989 the swell shade engine was rebuilt and in 1996 the organ generator was replaced by a solid state rectifier. As a testament to the quality of Austin's work, most of the instrument is as it was installed in 1935 and works fairly well. The current specification is a very rich and warm sound, amazing for an instrument of only five ranks. |
| Great | Swell | Pedal |
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Bourdon 16' Principal 8' Flute 8' Dulciana 8' Spitz Principal 4' Chimes |
Bourdon 16' Flute 8' Dulciana 8' Spitz Principal 4' Oboe Gamba 8' |
Bourdon 16' Swell to Pedal 8' Swell to Pedal 4' Great to Pedal 8' |