Music Ministry

APC Adult Chancel Choir

Sunday Worship | Opportunities for All | Serving Our Community | Seasonal Services | Guest Musicians | 100 Years of Ministry | Printable 2010-2011 Music Brochure | 2011 Children and Youth Musical

The great reformer, Martin Luther, called music "a fair and glorious gift of God." Our Music Ministry gratefully acknowledges this valuable gift, and aspires to lead our congregation in the high calling of praising God, as revealed through Christ Jesus.

Adult, handbell, youth, children’s and cherub choirs, soloists, and the sounds of organ, piano and other instruments are a regular part of worship services. APC also hosts special choral services, hymn festivals and concerts, featuring APC choirs, guest choirs, and/or instrumentalists.

APC Youth Choir

Gary Garletts,
Music Director

Sunday Worship

APC celebrates worship in the Reformed tradition each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. (10:00 a.m. in summer months). Here our faith community gathers to sing, pray, hear God's word, and be empowered to serve others. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper is observed several Sundays per year and at Wednesday evening vesper services in November and during Lent.

APC Quartet

Our Chancel Choir sings weekly in worship and is lead by professional section leaders:

• Christine DeVault, soprano
• Courtney Capriotti, mezzo-soprano
• Robert McClung, tenor
• Jeff DeVault, baritone

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Opportunities for All

Under the leadership of Gary Garletts, the APC Music Ministry includes choir opportunities for all ages.

• Chancel Choir (adults) volunteers with professional section leaders, sings weekly in worship (September-early June) and presents two cantatas or choral services. Rehearsals are Thursdays, 7:30-9:00 p.m.
• Handbell Choir (adults) plays occasionally in worship and rehearses Wednesdays, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Basic music reading skills are helpful for new members.
• Youth Choir (grades 6-12) sings periodically in worship, including an annual Youth Choir Sunday and other projects (musicals, travel, etc.). They rehearse Sundays, 11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• Children's Choir (grades 2-5) sings periodically, and Cherub Choir (pre-K to grade 1) sings periodically in worship. Both choirs rehearse during "Wednesday PLUS," 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays during the school year.
• Men's, Women's and College/Young Adult Choruses give adults who cannot rehearse weekly a chance to sing. Join us for rehearsal 45 minutes before worship.  Women's Chorus sings in worship January 2, 2011 and May 8, 2011; Men's Chorus sings February 6 and June 19, 2011; College/Young Adult sings December 26, 2010 and June 5, 2011.

Handbell Choir
Ready for Prelude

Singing on Sunday morning
Christine DeVault, soprano

Gary Garletts, playing the organ

APC Children's Choir

Chancel Choir

Children's service

APC Cherub Choir (in front of Children's Choir)

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Youth and Children's 2011 Musical:
"Great Kings Come in Small Packages"

Click here to view a slide show, download, print, or share more 2011 Musical photos.

Haverford High School Chorus

Serving Our Community

Haverford High School Choirs: APC is proud to be the concert venue for the high school choirs of Haverford Township. Marsha Bobnak directs the Concert Chorale and award-winning Chamber Singers. Concerts are held Sunday, January 9, 2011 (3:00 pm) and Sunday May 8, 2011 (7:30 pm).

Main Line Youth Chamber Orchestra: APC is the rehearsal home of the Main Line Youth Chamber Orchestra. Artistic Director Xiao-Fu Zhou and Conductor Sarah Sutton lead over 50 musicians in junior and senior ensembles. Concerts are held Saturdays, January 22 and June 4, 2011, both at 4:0pm.

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Seasonal Services

Advent/Christmas

• Advent Family Night (Sunday, December 5, 2010, 5:00-7:00 p.m.)
• Nativity Tableau & Caroling (Sunday, December 12, 2010, 10:30 a.m.)
• Chancel Choir, Christmas Cantata (Sunday, December 19, 2010, 10:30 a.m.)
• Christmas Eve (Friday, December 24, 2010)
  • Family Service - 7:00 p.m.
  • Lessons and Carols - 11:00 p.m.

Lent/Holy Week/Easter

• Ash Wednesday - Communion service (March 9, 2011 7:30pm)
• Lenten Vespers (Wednesdays, March 16 - April 20, 2011 7:30pm)
• Maundy Thursday - Agape Meal (April 21, 2011 6:30 pm)
• Good Friday - Chapel Services (April 22, 2011 12:15 and 7:30 pm)
• Easter Sunday (April 24, 2011)
  • Youth Chapel Service - 8:30 a.m.
  • Sanctuary Service - 10:30 a.m.
    (Brass/organ prelude at 10:00 a.m.)

Other Special Services

• Reformation Sunday – Bagpipes, Banners, Annual Three-Choir Anthem (Sunday, October 31, 2010 10:30 a.m.)
• Fall Vespers (Wednesdays, November 3, 10, 17, 2010 7:30 p.m.)
• Biennial Youth/Children's Musical "Good Things come in Small Packages" (Sunday, March 6, 2011)
• Annual Youth Choir Sunday – APC & Trinity PC (Arlington) Youth (Sunday, March 27, 2011 10:30 a.m.)
• Choral Service with Durufle's "Requiem" - Chancel Choir, 'cello and organ (Sunday, April 3, 2011 3:00 p.m.)

Annual Three-Choir Anthem

See photos of The 2007 Youth/Children Spring Musical in Youth

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Guest Musicians

LEFT PHOTO: Lancaster Brass Quintet   •   RIGHT PHOTO: Adrian Stefanescu, Percussionist

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100 Years of Ministry

From its founding in 1907, APC has valued an excellent music program. Most strongly associated with this tradition was Claribel Thomson, who served as organist/choir director from 1938 to 1990. Known for her exacting manner, she led a professional vocal quartet for Sunday services, and a volunteer choir for occasional choral services. After her retirement, Clair Rozier expanded the choral program, including multiple vocal and handbell choirs, and began what is now the Claribel Thomson Memorial Music Fund.

Gary leads the Chancel Choir (including professional quartet), Youth, Children's and Handbell Choirs.

Gary administered a rebuilding of the church’s 1959 Moeller organ by Luley and Associates. The organ now includes 60 pipe and two digital ranks, and is tonally similar to an English cathedral organ. Gary is also Artistic Director of the Chester County Choral Society, whose members augment the Chancel Choir on special occasions.

In observance of the church's centennial anniversary (2007), the Chancel Choir toured Scotland and Northern England, singing at Greyfriars Kirk (Edinburgh), Iona Abbey, and York Minster. The church also commissioned Arlen Clarke to compose an anthem, "The Call," which reflected on the call of the church’s first pastor (Dr. Rawson) while articulating the church’s centennial theme, "Our Life, Our Heritage."

LEFT PHOTO: APC Choir Scotland Tour at "Five Sisters Window" at York Minster, York
RIGHT PHOTO: at Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh

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For upcoming musical events also see Calendar

Click icons to check out APC's internet pages.