Christ Church New Bern

Music at Christ Church

Contact Gen Bolena for additional information about Christ Church music programs.

Choirs

The choral program at Christ Church has singing opportunities for kindergarten students through adults and an adult handbell choir. Kindergarten and first graders participate in Cherubs; second through fifth grade students sing in Choristers; middle and high school students sing in the King George Choir; middle school through adults are welcome to sing in the Parish Choir. All music rehearsals are held on the first floor of the Youth and Music Building at 321 Pollock Street, directly across the street from the front of the church. More detailed information about each choir is found below:

Cherubs

Kindergarten-1st Grade
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 3:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Choristers

2nd-5th Grades
Rehearsals: Wednesdays. 4:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Our music program for children uses many elements of the Orff Schulwerk process, which combines movement, singing, and improvisation. We have a growing collection of barred instruments and percussion instruments available for our choirs. In addition, the children are taught the role of music in liturgy, the importance of their role as a chorister and the importance of striving for excellence. They are taught how to sing and they are exposed to many genres of music.

Choristers sing at the 8:45 and 11:00 a.m. services about 6 times per year. Choristers and Cherubs perform for the annual Nativity Pageant and Music Extravaganza (a spring concert).

King George Choir

Students in middle and high school comprise the King George Choir. This choir sings an extremely diverse repertoire ranging from Bach to spirituals to contemporary Christian songs. They sing frequently at the 8:45 a.m. service in addition to joining the Parish Choir for Christmas Eve and Evensong. Rehearsals are held on Sunday afternoons at 3.45 p.m.

Parish Choir

Rehearsal Time: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Wednesdays, September through May

The Parish Choir’s chief purpose is to lead the liturgy every Sunday at the 11:00 a.m. service from September through May. This choir also sings the services of Advent Lessons and Carols, Choral Evensong, and other Holy Day liturgies throughout the church year. Repertoire is drawn from a diverse collection of sources including chant, Renaissance motets, spirituals, and 19th- and 20th-century choral music. The Parish Choir attends an annual retreat in the fall held at Trinity Center in Salter Path (at the beach.)

A nursery is available during weeknight rehearsals and on Sunday mornings for parents with children.

8:45 Choir

At 8:00 a.m. each Sunday, a small group of musicians meet in the music room to form the choir for the 8:45 Eucharist. This service is accompanied by piano, acoustic guitar and bass guitar. The choir is casual (no vestments!) and fun and you don’t have to commit to singing every Sunday…come when you can. If this sounds like it is right up your alley, please come join us! New singers are always welcome. If you play an instrument and are interested in joining the ensemble, give Gen Bolena a call. The instrumentalists currently rehearse on Thursday mornings.

Handbell Choir

The handbell choir plays a 3 octave set of bells and is directed by Jean Reichenbach, M.M. The bell choir meets on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 – 6:30 in the music room. They play at the 11 a.m. service several times a year.

Zimmer Organ, 1967

Information on the Zimmer Organ installed in Christ Church may be found here.

The Howard Carillon

The church tower holds a carillon of 27 bells, the gift of a former parishioner, Dr. Albert Howard, honoring his wife, Joyce. The carillon reached its present state in 1996. The bells, cast at the Paccard Foundry in Annecy, France, strike the hours and quarters and can be played from the organ console.

an Episcopal Parish in the Diocese of East Carolina
Christ Church, 320 Pollock Street, P.O. Box 1246, New Bern NC 28563
252-633-2109