Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. Psalm 33:1-3 (NIV)
God created us in His image and desires our worship. Worship is the many ways that we show God our love, adoration, honor and praise. Music and creative arts are some of the ways that we worship at AUMC. Whether you are musically talented and thinking of joining a choir, or just enjoy the excellent music on Sunday mornings, we can all be involved in the music ministries of AUMC!
Special Organ Dedication Concert
Sunday, February 21 at 3:00 p.m. in Sanctuary (no admission charge!)
Join us as we celebrate the recently expanded Holtkamp organ in our Sanctuary. The benefit concert will feature organists, Sandra Watwood and Gary Klarenbeek playing a wide variety of literature including solo organ works, organ duos for 4-hands/4-feet, and also organ and piano duets. Composers featured will include J.S. Bach, Henri Mulet, Leon Boellman, Diane Bish, Linda McKechnie, and many others culminating with the rousing organ duo, “Stars and Stripes Forever.” A love offering will be received with the proceeds going to the organ fund.
In November, a new custom 4-manual organ console was installed in the chancel to accommodate the addition of over 120 stops (tonal voices) to the original Holtkamp organ which was installed approximately 10 years ago. Due to remarkable advances in digital technology, major tonal additions were added to the foundation of existing existing pipework which just a few years ago would have been impossible.
“The enlarged instrument is symbolic for the church as it builds on a tradition of excellence as we look to an exciting future in the worship life of our congregation. Worship has always been the bedrock of our congregation. For our music ministry’s traditional services, the sanctuary organ is the instrument which provides the firm foundation for all our congregational singing, choir accompaniment, and setting the mood for worship through the prelude and other musical offerings," Gary says.
The expanded instrument is hailed as one of the finest and most versatile organs in the Southeast. The modifications that were done have made a tremendous difference in the tonal resources and versatility of the instrument especially the addition of a myriad of soft accompaniment voices and solo stops. The original instrument had 37 stops. The newly completed instrument has 132 stops. Future planned additions are an antiphonal division sounding from the balcony to enhance congregational singing as well as an ethereal division speaking from the narthex of the sanctuary for increased versatility.