As an adult at West Jackson, there is a place for you in the music ministry.  Do you love to sing and do you love to use your music as an act of worship to the Lord?  Do you like to use your music to encourage others to worship the Lord?  Do you desire to use your music as a testimony and witness to God's work of grace in your life?  Then the Sanctuary Choir is the place for you.  This group of adults age 18 and above meet every Wednesday night from 6:15 - 7:45 p.m. in the Choir Room and is responsible for worship leadership every Sunday morning.  Along with the Church Orchestra, they present three to four special concerts/programs each year such as worship musicals, Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir concerts, Easter presentations, Patriotic celebrations, and finish the year with The Sounds of Christmas in December.  There is no audition necessary.  You do not have to have previous choir experience.  If you can "carry a tune", we would love to have you join us in rehearsal Wednesday night.

What a gift it is to be able to play a musical instrument!  Did you play in the band or orchestra in high school or college?  Have you had private lessons or been a part of a community or organizational band?  Do you have access to the instrument you have played?  Then the Church Orchestra is the place for you.  The orchestra rehearses every Wednesday night from 7:45 - 8:45 p.m. in the sanctuary and is responsible for worship leadership and accompaniment every Sunday morning.  It provides accompaniment for the congregation, for the choir and plays individual performance pieces for offertories and preludes.  This group is a part of each major Sanctuary Choir performance and occasionally performs a concert completely on its own.  The only requirement is that you have played your instrument for at least 4 years and can play at a moderate level of difficulty.  Many of our orchestra members are asked to play instrumental solos, duets, and ensembles.  Call the music office if you are interested.  We would love to get you some music and plug you into our rehearsal on Wednesday night.

The music ministry has other groups that are "specialty" groups.  The Worship Team is a selected ensemble of adults from the Sanctuary Choir who have frequent leadership responsibilities in Sunday morning worship services.  Accompanying the Worship Team is the Worship Team Instrumentals, a band utilizing rhythm instruments like guitars and piano, along with drums, keyboard, flute and violin.  If you have special talents in these types of instruments and would be interested in using those gifts, please contact the music office. 

Other small ensemble groups are formed from members of the Sanctuary Choir such as the Ladies Ensemble which meets weekly.  Men's quartets are also selected from the Sanctuary Choir and High School Choir occasionally.  There are occasional opportunities for unique groups such as handbell choirs or senior adult choirs that calls for special interest and abilities. 

ADULT MUSIC

Student Music Ministry has always been an integral part of the worship life of West Jackson.  Students are given the opportunity to use and develop their musical talents whether vocal or instrumental through performing groups, worship leadership and mission experiences.  The foundational music groups in student music ministry are the MiddleSingers Choir which is open to all students in sixth through eighth grades and the High School Choir which is open to all students in ninth through twelfth grades. 

These groups meet during the school year on Sunday afternoons and periodically lead the church's worship services on Sunday nights.  Both choirs tour with the emphasis in the MiddleSingers tour being ministry to nursing homes and elderly needs facilities and in the High School Choir tour being a combination of concerts, ministry to children and extended needs missions such as feeding the homeless or block parties.  Being a part of the MiddleSingers or the High School Choir develops musicianship, mission mindedness, spiritual perception and a spirit of support and encouragement for all of the students.  MiddleSingers' recent tours have been to areas like Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and St. Louis, Missouri.  The choir will have its mini-tour in mid-February, 2012 to the Birmingham/Huntsville, Alabama area.  The High School Choir's more recent mission trips have been to CIncinnati, Ohio, and Baltimore, Maryland, leading vacation Bible School and neighborhood Bible Clubs as well as singing the national anthem for a Baltimore Orioles baseball game.

Students in these groups have an avenue to be a part of more individualistic opportunites as well.  Whether developing as soloists, or singing in a small group ensemble, or playing an instrument in the orchestra or a rhythm instrument like a guitar or drums in a band, students can develop their skills to be used in the work of mnistry through the church.

Whether you a student is very gifted musically or has never been a part of any musical group, being a part of our student music ministry can give him or her an avenue of worship and connection that will help in the journey of life.  Through this experience one can learn what it means to be part of a team as well as deepen an  understanding of scripture through the sung Word.  The spirit of "family" in choir helps provide a sense of support as well as accomplish something far greater than what any one of us can accomplish.  It provides a great vehicle to share witness of faith in Jesus Christ and lays a wonderful foundation for worship throughout our lives.

Choirs meet Sunday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.  Call the church music office for any information you might want concerning either choir and its minstries and activities.

STUDENT CHOIRS