Musical Opportunities at
Blacksburg Presbyterian Church
James R. Bryant
Director of Music and Organist
Mary Harder
Director, Children’s Choir
Music has played an important part in the worship and educational life of Blacksburg Presbyterian Church for many years. Music in the service of the Church is never an end in itself. Rather, it calls attention to God’s presence among us rather than to musicians or instruments. It is a means by which the Word is proclaimed, faith is encouraged, and the faithful are inspired and comforted. From the simplest response or hymn, to the most elaborate choral or organ offering, we strive to praise and rejoice in our God, the Creator, Christ, and Comforter.
Music for Youth and Adults
The Adult Choir is the principal Sunday morning worship choir. The choir is made up of primarily volunteer adults but is always open to youth in 10th grade and older. This choir rehearses each Wednesday (7:30-8:45PM) from mid-August until the end of May, and is usually in the loft each Sunday during that period. A brief rehearsal takes place prior to the Sunday service. The choir leads the hymns and responses, and presents a wide variety of music from the traditional sacred music repertoire, world music, and a careful selection from today’s leading composers. Special extended choral works, often with instrumental accompaniment, are presented during Advent and Eastertide. The Choir takes the summer off, but members often continue to provide special music as soloists, or in ensembles.
Music for Children
The Children’s Choir curriculum is offered in conjunction with the Way Cool Wednesdays after school program. In 2005-06, over twenty children from Kindergarten through Middle School were involved. The Children’s Choir sings approximately once per month during the school year and offers special programs during worship or other times of year.
Each season of the year the choir focuses on a different theme. Some of the past themes are heroes of the Bible, music of praise, the Psalms, and great hymns of our faith. Each year all the choir members eagerly await the Christmas program, called Plum Pudding, which is usually held the second Sunday in December.
This year three choir members and the director will attend the Montreat Music and Worship Conference in Montreat, NC.
The choir is under the direction of Mary Harder and assisted by Mary Lee Hendricks, who accompanies on the piano.
Music for Handbell Ringers
The Handbell Choir is made up of volunteers, and is open to adults and youth 10th grade and older. This Choir rehearses on Sunday afternoons (4:30-5:30PM) during the school year, and presents service music about once a month. Its repertoire includes hymn and sacred song arrangements, as well as original music written for the handbells and handchimes. The choir usually participates in a regional festival once during the year, and members frequently ring with the mass choirs at the Montreat Worship and Music Conference.
Music for the Community
Our church is a favorite performance venue for local artists and ensembles. It offers a 500-seat sanctuary with acoustics that are very favorable to music-making. Local choral organizations such as the Blacksburg Master Chorale and the University Choirs from Virginia Tech perform here regularly. We also host occasional concerts among the Virginia Tech Chamber Music series when a larger hall is required. During the 1980’s, the Audubon Quartet presented the entire Beethoven cycle of quartets at the church.
By the generosity of Markham Peacock, former Head of the English Department at Virginia Tech, we have been able to offer some outstanding programs to our community, as well as make instrumental ensembles available to our morning services. Prior concerts have included two appearances by the world-famous Concert Handbell Choir from the Westminster Choir College of Rider University, a concert in 2005 of the Westminster Chapel Choir, and a very unique performance in 1999 of the Monteverdi Vespers (1610) by the early music ensemble Zephyrus from Charlottesville.
Mr. Bryant offers occasional organ recitals on the two-manual Holtkamp pipe organ, often in collaboration with faculty colleagues from Virginia Tech.