DGFUMC Music

The Chapel Choir has a rich history at First United Methodist Church. Since 1960, this choir led Sunday worship at the 9:30 Sunday morning service during the school year. They now collaborate with other choirs during the 10:00 a.m. service. The Chapel Choir is open to all high school youth regardless of musical abilities or background.

For the past 48 years, the choir has participated on a week-long Spring Break musical trip spreading God’s message in words and song to congregations throughout North America, including such places as New York City, Boston, Denver, St. Simon’s Island, Memphis, Pensacola, Nashville, Toronto, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Philadelphia, Virginia Beach, Ft. Worth, New Orleans, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Wilmington, and many communities in between. The 2020 tour was suspended due to the coronovirus pandemic. 

Choir members practice Sunday morning after the 10:00 a.m. worship service as well as Wednesday night in preparation for their Christmas Concert and choir tour. Members also give their time through fundraising and mission trip activities at church. The youth are actively involved at their schools in athletics, speech, band, choir, dance, and many clubs.

The Chapel Choir goals are to:

• Share our faith in Jesus Christ through our music and our actions.
• Learn to participate in the leading of a Worship Service.
• Grow in our music skills through our rehearsal and performance schedule.
• Develop new relationships within our own group
• Learn to participate in and contribute to a large, diversified group.

The Chapel Choir typically rehearses on Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:15 p.m.

Exceptions to normal rehearsal times are:

Feb. 26, Mar. 4, 11 and 18  - Extended Rehearsals for Children's Cantata

Warm Ups when Chorister Choir sings in worship are 1/2 hour before the worship time

Chorister Choir Rehearsals are 5:00 - 5:45 pm every Wednesday

Exceptions to normal rehearsal times are:

October 31, 2018 - Halloween - No Rehearsals

November 21, 2018 - Thanksgiving Eve - No Rehearsal

December 5, 12 and 19, 2018 - Christmas Eve Family Service Reading Rehearsals for children with reading parts  - 4:30 - 5:00 pm

December 5, 12 and 19, 2018 - Extended Rehearsals for Christmas Eve Family Service

December 26, 2018 - No Rehearsal - Christmas Break

January 2, 2019 - No Rehearsal - Christmas Break

March 28, 2018 - No Rehearsal - Spring Break

April 10, 17 and 24 - Extended Rehearsals for Children's Cantata for Cherub Choir - Time TBD

Chorister Choir will warm up in Chapel Hall 1/2 hour before they sing in worship.

Performs periodically at the 9:30 and 11:00am services throughout the school year. The Westminster Handbell Ensemble travels to play preconcert and intermission music for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Christmas Concert, as well as performing at home for our own FUMC Handbells Christmas and Spring Extravaganzas.

If you are interested in ringing handbells, this is the place to be!

Handbells Mission Statement:

The Westminster Handbell Ensemble and Chancel Ringers of FUMC worship God through music.

We celebrate teamwork and imagination in handbell ringing.
We play a wide range of styles.
We love to share in morning worship.
We love to worship through concerts presented ~~
             Annual Hanging of the Greens Christmas and Spring Ring Concerts.