FUMC of Gilbert

Music Ministry

First United Methodist Church of Gilbert (Arizona) offers many opportunities for singers and musicians of all ages and levels of musicianship to join its lively and varied music program. The Music Ministry strives to provide a diverse spiritual offering. The Sunday 8:15 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. services center around traditional music, regularly requiring the use of the organ, piano, and sometimes orchestral instruments, so as to establish an atmosphere conducive to worship and prayer. A broad range of musical styles can fall under this traditional music umbrella ranging from music of the Renaissance church through anthems influenced by the contemporary Christian movement. The Sunday 11:15 a.m. service provides a more casual and contemporary atmosphere with music leadership provided by the band LIFESONG.

There are numerous opportunities to participate or assist the Music Ministry. All ensemble rehearsals are held at the church—some in the choir room, some in the bell room, and some in the sanctuary—and while we have a steadily growing program of participants, we are always looking to add to the ranks of both experienced and inexperienced volunteers. If you have an interest in joining one of our groups in the music program, please contact either our Director of Music Ministries (Dr. Gregory Gentry) or our Coordinator of Contemporary Music (Anna Gentry) at music@gilbertumc.org or through the church office at (480) 892-9166 .

Music Staff
Dr. Gregory R. Gentry, Director of Music Ministries
Jonathan Cochran, Organist
Anna Gentry, Contemporary Music Coordinator and Director of Wesleyan Bells

Chancel Choir
Gilbert First's Chancel Choir is a mixed (SATB) choral ensemble directed by Dr. Gregory Gentry , open to men and women volunteers, including experienced singers of high-school age. This vital and growing choral ensemble prepares music for the traditional Sunday morning services, that includes standard choral literature--both classic and contemporary--as well as spirituals and stylized gospel music. The Chancel Choir performed Handel’s Messiah (December 2005) with a baroque chamber orchestra, J. S. Bach's cantata Sleepers Wake (BWV 140) (spring 2006), and Christmas Oratorio by Camille Saint-Saens (December 2006) with harp, organ, and soloists. In March 2007 the Chancel Choir had a wonderful time joining with the adult choir of Tempe First United Methodist Church for a combined presentation of John Leavitt’s Requiem with orchestra, under the combined direction of Warren Dennis and Gregory Gentry . The Chancel Choir is currently preparing the Rutter Requiem for a Lent presentation with orchestra on March 2, 2008, during the 8:15 and 9:45 services.

NOTE : The Chancel Choir rehearses each Wednesday evening at 7:00pm, and sings at the 8:15 and 9:45 traditional Sunday morning worship services. Nursery/child care is available for both Wednesday rehearsals and Sunday morning worship services.

Organ
Gilbert First United Methodist incorporates into traditional worship services its beautiful Allen digital three manual instrument, manufactured by Allen Organ Company, in Macungie , Pennsylvania , which is the largest builder of church organs in the world. Allen invented the digital organ format that most closely exact realistic pipe organ sounds, through Renaissance Quantum™ digital voicing, with the capacity to retain even the most subtle nuances of a true pipe organ. While our organ is a programmable digital organ, it has the capacity to expand (or, add on pipes) as an acoustic pipe organ, like many Allen MIDI digital/pipe combination organs.

The Wesleyan Bells
Bells are among the most ancient of musical instruments, and have been used in worship since the some of the earliest documentable times. Gilbert First United Methodist has a long tradition of bell choirs, and currently has a group of talented ringers that enjoys performing a wide variety of handbell literature. Our ensemble generally rings with 12 bell ringers (playing 4 octaves of Schulmerich Bells, as well as Suzuki Tone Chimes), and we have a core Bell Quartet that occasionally prepares more challenging quartet literature for Sunday services. The Wesleyan Bells welcomes capable ringers of high school age and above.

NOTE: The Wesleyan Bells rehearse Wednesdays from 5:30pm - 6:30pm in the bell room (with summers off). Nursery/child care is available for both Wednesday rehearsals and Sunday morning worship services.

LIFESONG
Our Contemporary Christian band, LIFESONG, leads the music in the more casual setting of Gilbert First's contemporary worship service (Sunday 11:15 am) with versatility to stylize in country, rock and roll, jazz, pop and gospel genres. While the liturgy is consistent with the traditional services, this service features contemporary Christian songs by Twila Paris, Matt Redman, Mark Hall, Brian Doerkson, and Andy Park, among others. During worship, the congregation is encouraged to sing along with the overhead projected lyrics and visual images. With a revitalized approach, the group includes 2 male and 2 female vocalists, drums, electric bass, electric guitars, synthesized keyboard, and acoustic grand piano.

Cherub Choir
The Cherub Choir is open to children from Pre-K thru 2nd grade and rehearses on Sunday mornings from 11:00am to 11:20am in the Choir Room, with summers off. With approximately 30 members, the group is now under the direction of Mrs. Cynthia Colton, and accompanied by Mrs. Ann Marie Smith. In June 2007 the Cherub Choir performed, by invitation, at the United Methodist Church 's Desert Southwest Annual Conference at the Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort in Scottsdale , Arizona .

Junior Choirs
The Junior Choir is open to children 3rd thru 8th grades inclusive, and rehearses in the Choir Room on Wednesdays from 5:30pm to 6:15pm, with summers off. This group of young singers works on choral repertoire (including works by Natalie Sleeth) that develop musicianship and harmony skills. The Junior Choir—now under the direction of Mrs. Cynthia Colton, and accompanied by Mrs. Sally Poeske—performed by invitation, at the United Methodist Church 's 2007 Desert Southwest Annual Conference at the Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Chapel Chimes
Chapel Chimes is the newly formed youth chime choir under the direction of Mrs. Tami Bruce. The ensemble is comprised of youngsters ranging in age from 1st grade through 7th grade. The group—which uses tone chimes—practices on Wednesdays from 5:00pm to 5:30pm in the Bell Room, with summers off. Under the guidance of Mrs. Bruce (and assistants Mrs. Gretchen Benson and Mrs. Alex Houseman) the 14 participants work on music site reading skills and bell ringing techniques.