The mission of the music ministry at the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown is to glorify God through music.
The foundation of the music ministry is the choir. This ensemble provides musical leadership every Sunday during the worship service. The choir sings a wide variety of musical styles including plainchant, classic sacred anthems from all historical periods, settings of hymns, spirituals, gospel, and sacred folk music, contemporary praise music, and music from other cultures. The choir leads the congregation in the singing of hymns and responses, and provides music for different parts of the worship service, from the prelude to the benediction.
Membership is open to anyone who wishes to glorify God through choral singing. Rehearsals are every Sunday after worship from 11 AM until noon, and several Saturday mornings throughout the year. The ability to read music is not a requirement; all that is needed is a desire to learn and improve one's choral skills. The choir is always looking for new members!
The other major element of the music ministry is the handbell choir. The primary responsibility of the handbell choir is to provide musical leadership every three to four weeks during Sunday worship. The handbells ring all musical parts of the service, including the prelude, offertory, postlude and benediction. They frequently accompany the choir anthem. The music of the handbell choir reflects the same variety as the vocal choir. The PCC Handbell Choir is a member of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR) and participate each spring in a five-state festival with hundreds of other ringers, conducted by a handbell conductor of national prominence.
Membership is open to anyone who can read music, wants to learn a new skill, and has the desire to glorify God through the art of handbell ringing. The handbell choir rehearses every Thursday from 4 PM until 5:30 PM, and is always looking for new members!