The Choirs and Ensembles of Shadyside Presbyterian Church
The Shadyside Chancel Choir
The internationally acclaimed Shadyside Chancel Choir is a semi-professional choral ensemble that sings for the weekly 11 A.M. worship service. Weekly rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings at 7:30 P.M. in the Sanctuary. The Chancel Choir is open to singers over age eighteen by audition. Contact J. Christopher Pardini, Organist/Music Director for more information.
The Shadyside Choral Society
The Shadyside Choral Society is a community choir devoted to performing the great choral masterworks. Under the direction of Curt Scheib, the Shadyside Choral Society appears regularly as part of the Music in a Great Space concert series as well as throughout the Pittsburgh community. For more information, contact Curt Scheib.
The Shadyside Choral Society will be begin rehearsals on Tuesday, 11 September, and invites members and friends of Shadyside Presbyterian Church to participate. The major work for the fall will be the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah. The Choral Society
seeks to provide an opportunity for all
members of our community to participate in
the music ministry of Shadyside Church.
Rehearsals are at 7:30pm on Tuesday
evenings. Come and give it a try!
The Lantern Ringers
The Lantern Ringers serve Shadyside Presbyterian Church's main performing handbell choir. This choir is open by audition to anyone with musical experience.
For more information or to schedule an audition, please contact J. Christopher Pardini at the church.
The Shadyside Bells
The Shaydside Bells is open to anyone who possesses a love of music and a desire to learn.
For more information or to schedule an audition, please contact J. Christopher Pardini at the church.
The Shadyside Brass
Comprised of local professionals, university students as well as church members, The Shadyside Brass appears at worship for special Sundays and holidays. If you are a brass player with significant orchestral playing experience, we welcome your participation! Contact J. Christopher Pardini, Organist/Music Director for more information
The Shadyside Strings
The Shadyside Strings plays for the weekly Wednesday evening Vespers Services during the Advent and Lenten seasons as well as occasional Sunday mornings. Comprised of church members, professionals and local university students, this ensemble is open to all string players with significant orchestral experience. Contact J. Christopher Pardini, Organist/Music Director for more information
Sunday Adventures in Music (SAM)
Now in its 16th year, Sunday Adventures in Music is a comprehensive music training program for children. SAM gives us an opportunity to teach children the skills necessary to participate fully in the musical life of the Christian church.
We seek to help children develop their singing voices, teach them basic skills in music literacy, and introduce them to varied traditions of sacred music from around the world. We are pleased to have included a number of children from the community on our past rosters and are always eager to reach out to new friends.
Younger Children
The Bethlehem Choir is a training choir for children in kindergarten through second grade. Their performances are generally in comfortable settings, such as church dinners and nursing homes. They also help the Nazareth Choir lead in worship on Christmas Eve, Palm Sunday, and Good Friday.
Older Children
The Nazareth Choir (grades three through eight) is the Shadyside Presbyterian Church children’s choir. The children serve as music leaders in Shadyside’s worship service four or five Sunday mornings each year, as well as Christmas Eve and Good Friday. Choristers also have the opportunity to participate in the Pittsburgh Choristers Guild Annual Children’s Choir Festival in March.
Instruments & Enhancement Activities:
In addition to vocal and choral training, the children often accompany themselves using drums, xylophones,
glockenspiels, and other rhythm instruments.
The older children also learn the basics of choir chime and handbell ringing. The appeal of these instruments provides additional motivation for children to learn to follow the shape of a melody line and read simple rhythmic patterns.
Rehearsals
Beginning this year, SAM will be incorporating rehearsals into a slightly extended Sunday morning.
The Nazareth Choir will begin with singing “second hour” (approximately 11:15 a.m. to noon) and continue with choir chimes from noon to 12:40 p.m. There will be a special snack in between. The Bethlehem Choir will rehearse from noon to 12:40 p.m. Rehearsals will not be held on Communion Sundays (generally the first Sunday of the month), so that older children may remain in worship. Each semester, children will receive a CD of their repertoire to take home.
Schedule
Our Fall / Advent Session begins September 9, 2007, with an abbreviated schedule. The Winter / Lent Session begins January 13, 2008. For more information and a complete schedule, contact Jane Howell or call the church office.
Sunday School Music
Opening Music at 9:45 A.M.
Four-year olds through sixth graders gather in Class Room A (next to the gym) to share Sunday school favorites and at least one of our morning hymns. Sunday school songs are available on an audio tape - please ask for a copy.