Music

Come see our Chapel Choir as they perform their 41st tour show here at home. This year’s theme is “Outside of Our Own LIttle World” and features music about faith, compassion and hope.

Come hear our Chancel Choir as they present "A Little Jazz Mass" by Bob Chilcott, with a Jazz trio featuring Stuart Seale on piano, Tim Ipsen on bass, and Nils Hidgon on drums. They will also be performing "Songs of Faith" by Paul Basler, featuring Gary Greene on horn and Accompanist Pattie Barnes on piano.

The Cantata will be featured at both the 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. services.

The Chancel Choir of the First United Methodist Church presents Ralph Vaughan Williams' cantata Hodie (This Day) at the 9:30am and 11:00am services on Sunday, December 4. This is  Vaughan Williams' last major choral work, a vivid setting of the Nativity story interwoven with Christmas poetry by Milton, Hardy, and George Herbert. The music encompasses a wide variety of styles, from serene mysticism and pastoral solos to thrilling brass fanfares and choral climaxes. The work, which was composed for the Three Choirs Festival in England and premiered in Worcester Cathedral in 1954, will be performed by our 65-voice choir and soloists accompanied by full orchestra, all led by Diane Hires.

Please plan a morning with family and friends to celebrate Advent Season and splendid music together. 

Choirs from First Congregational United Church of Christ, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, will join with our own Chancel Choir to present an evening of choral and organ music. Choirs from each church will sing their own favorite anthems, organists will present selections, and all choirs will join their voices in two massed anthems, “Fairest Lord Jesus” arranged by Mark Hayes and “The Promise of Living” by Aaron Copland.

Plan to be a part of the audience to welcome your friends in these guest choirs and to celebrate the strong music tradition of the Downers Grove area and the 175th Anniversary of our own church.

This choir festival, hosted by other churches in past years, is the first hosted by FUMC. The concert will begin at 7:30 in the Sanctuary and a Reception will follow.