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Worship and Music

Plymouth has two worship services each Sunday morning during the church year, Vespers services four times a year, plus special services during Christmas, Lent and Easter. All these include extraordinary music under the overall direction of Philip Brunelle for the past 43 years.

Senior Choir
The Plymouth Choir sings for Sunday services throughout the year, except during August. (In addition, during June and July summer volunteers are welcomed). Membership in the Choir is by audition with Philip Brunelle, Organist-Choirmaster. Rehearsals are held Wednesday evenings September-May. The Choir sings two anthems most Sundays, covering the range of sacred choral repertoire from the Renaissance to the present day. January-May repertoire [PDF].

Choir School
This Wednesday evening program provides classes for children and youth in Plymouth’s musical and fine arts tradition. It offers opportunities to participate in vocal and bell choirs, all of which participate in Sunday morning worship services throughout the program year.

Choir: Elizabeth Egger leads the Cherub Choir (kindergarten through 2nd grade); Mary Laymon leads Chorister Choir for children in 3rd through 6th grade.

Handbells: Cammy Carteng leads the Early Bells (3rd–4th grades), Bells Jubilee (5th–6th grades) and Coventry Ringers (7th–12th grades) handbell choirs.

Dance: Carole Humphrey choreographs movement for the Genesis Dancers (kindergarten-2nd grade) and the Alleluia Dancers (3rd through 12th grades).

Young Voices: Kristen Froebel leads a non-performance music experience for ages 3-5 years.

Youth Choir
This choir, for youth in grades 7 through 12, sings choral pieces ranging from folk hymns and spirituals to contemporary pieces, in languages including Spanish, Latin, Hebrew and Nguni. To join, a music background is helpful, but not required; love of singing is essential. They rehearse every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., and perform in the sanctuary five or six times a year. Mary Laymon is the director. They go on retreat with a guest director every fall.

Adult Handbells
Handbell ringing has been a Plymouth music tradition since 1973. The main objective is to provide music for worship on a monthly basis and Christmas Eve at the late service. Usually there’s one community service performance each year and one or two other events at Plymouth, including performing with the Plymouth Choir. Their music is full of variety – classical, hymns and handbell originals. Tryouts aren’t necessary, but ringers must read music and have some rhythm skills. Rehearsals are 9:00-10:15 a.m. every Sunday morning in One Groveland. Contact Cammy Carteng (952/927-9849; 763/764-8012; Lcarteng@comcast.net) for questions and signup.

Plymouth’s Organ
From its earliest days, each of Plymouth’s sanctuaries has housed a pipe organ featuring the names of some of America’s finest builders of their generation, including Hook & Hastings, Aeolian-Skinner and, since 1981, Holtkamp. The present organ is renown as one of the finest in Minnesota, equally attuned for hymn playing, anthem accompaniment and solo organ repertoire. Philip Brunelle is only the third person to serve as Plymouth’s Organist-Choirmaster since 1900.

VocalEssence
Recognized internationally for innovative exploration of music for voices and instruments, VocalEssence was founded by Philip Brunelle in 1969 under the name Plymouth Music Series as a Plymouth Church arts outreach program. Each year the organization presents an engaging collection of concerts featuring the 120-voice VocalEssence Chorus and the 32-voice Ensemble Singers along with soloists and instrumentalists. In 1979, the Plymouth Music Series was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation governed by its own independent board of directors. It continues to have offices, rehearsals and its Christmas concerts at Plymouth. See www.vocalessence.org.

At a glance...

Senior Choir	Adult Handbells
Choir School	The Organ
Youth Choir	VocalEssence

Click on photo for enlargement.

   Cherub Choir singing at a recent service.

     Wednesday Evening Choir School Schedule, starting September 12

     5:15-6:30    Dinner
    6:00-6:20   Young Voices (3-5 yr. olds), Room 207
    6:15-6:45   Alleluia Dancers (3rd grade and older),
                       Room 203; Cherub Choir (K-2nd grade), Room 205
    6:30-7:15     Coventry Ringers (7th-12th grade),
                       Bell Room (original bldg)
    6:45-7:30     Chorister Choir (3rd-6th grade),
                       Room 205; Genesis Dancers (K-2nd grade),
                       Room 203
    7:30-8:10     Bells Jubilee (5th-6th grades),
                       Bell Room (original bldg)
    7:30-8:30     Youth Choir (7th-12th grade), Room 205
    7:00               Family Gathering Time, Jones Commons
(families are invited to gather for conversation, dessert, coffee, juice)