The adult vocal choir of the church is known for being one of the finest choral ensembles in the area. From September until June the choir sings regularly for the Sunday 11:00 A.M. "traditional" worship service - presenting a wide array of choral music from Classical to Contemporary as well as Spirituals and Gospel. In addition the choir participates in several choral programs in the Grace Music Series each season.

THE CARILLONS BELL CHOIR

The Carillons Bell Choir has come to be known as one of the finest adult handball ensembles in the mid-Atlantic region. In addition to their ringing for worship at Grace, the choir is also in demand to perform at other venues throughout the area. All of the ringers in the group are quite experienced and membership in this group is on a select basis. Concert appearances include the Glen Meadows Retirement Community, Westminster Hall (Baltimore), and Longwood Gardens (PA). Please watch the Schedule of Events for upcoming events by The Carillons.

ONLY GRACE

In the fall of 2007, Grace Church added a Contemporary Worship Service each Sunday at 9:30 A.M. The music for this service is provided by our own praise ensemble, Only Grace. The group is led by Rick and Nan Woppert. Their emphasis is on music composed in recent years, however they also include famliar hymns of the church in a contemporary style. Adult and youth singers and instrumentalists are invited to share in this contemporary music ministry.

THE GRACE MEMORIAL ORGAN is a combination of the original pipework of the Wicks Organ Company and the digital sampling (from other real pipes) by the Walker Technical Company with a new four-manual console by R. A. Colby, Inc.  Rededicated in October 1999, the Grace Memorial Organ is a central catalyst for worship at Grace Church. The pipe organ has been hailed as the "king of instruments" because of it's leadership ability and versatility.

ON THE

MUSIC

MINISTRY

The following "Reflections on the Music Ministry of Grace Church" was prepared and delivered by Dr. G. Richard Price, Lay Leader, on the occasion of honoring Dennis Stewart for 25 years of service as Director of Music:

In my experience the music ministry has always been a strong part of the witness of Grace Church.  In the summer of 1963, I came out of graduate school and as an officer assigned to Aberdeen Proving Ground, moved to Aberdeen.  Grace Church then was a little white church on the corner – and it was a building in serious need of replacement – the ceiling was falling in “left field” so no one was allowed to sit there.  But they had a new pastor – Rev. Douglas Cooney – and to my added delight, had a good choir.

Jim King was the director then, Rovilla Atkinson the organist, and Frank Dare led the children’s choir.  I guess that Marge Dare and I are now the remaining choir members that date continuously back to that time.

In a short time there was a new building (the present Sanctuary), a new organ and a new organist – Vera Carroll.  Some time later, Jim retired from directing and Vera became the organist/director.

In 1976 we acquired handbells for a bell choir and two choirs were formed – The Tintinnabulators and The Carillons – senior and youth choirs.  The Carillons included "little" Barbie and Glenn Gillis, Eve and Richard Price, Julie and Jim Garner, Brad and Laura King, Stephen Hill, Carla Hansen, and Elisa Somody, to name a few.  Do note that five of the original Carillons and two from The Tintinnabulators are still playing bells here some 30 years later!  Perhaps if we stick to it long enough, we’ll finally get it right!   And of course we now have a youth bell choir in which a third generation is playing.   There’s something addictive about bells!

And then in 1982, just 25 years ago, Vera Carroll departed and the search for a replacement began.   So it was that Dennis Stewart came to Grace - straight out of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ.   A callow youth from Rising Sun – and yet he could do it all – play, direct  --- and do it well -- all without getting flustered.   Perhaps I shouldn’t make too much of his unflappability - we’ve discovered over the years that Dennis’ expression of emotion (apart from the organ) runs the gamut from A to B.   But that’s not necessarily a bad thing – when, as a performer, things occasionally turn to "worms", it is reassuring to look up and find a calm countenance directing.   At the same time, I hasten to add that Dennis would like to point out that if we performers would look up more often, perhaps things wouldn’t turn to worms in the first place! But that’s a long-running battle we need not get into this morning . . . .

And now 25 years later, the organ has grown in size from 19 to 90+ ranks, and the high quality music program has continued and expanded again –we now have a youth band and our own praise band --- as well as a service that features the contemporary style of music.

All the parts of the worship service are important – the scripture, the exposition, prayers and the music.   But as we focus on the music ministry this morning, I’m thankful for all that transpires here --- we have come to count on magical musical moments as we worship.  We have been and are truly blessed!