Music Ministries at Asbury

The Asbury Chancel Choir has a long and exciting histo-ry. We are fortunate to be able to sing in a sanctuary with 4 to 5 seconds reverb, a fine Casavant Organ of 80 ranks, a Steinway Concert Grand Piano with a strong, committed membership of musicians who believe in the power and love of God through their music. They have for decades brought inspirational music to the worship life of this parish. Many brochures and pic-tures in the archives affords us a glimpse into this history.

The Asbury Chancel Choir
Robert E. Young, Director

September 2005, at the Steinway
"Here I Am Lord", Craig Courtney

Procession Circa 1995

The Asbury Chancel Choir has performed the Requiem by Johannes Brahms; Verdi Re-quiem; Gian Carlo Menotti's, Amahl and the Night Visitors; Faure Requiem, movements of the Durufle Requiem, and the Gloria! by John Rutter. We enjoy singing music of all styles from the unaccompanied music of the early Renaissance, the motets of the Romantic and Contemporary periods, and the spirituals of many ethneticities, through to the large orchestrated and accompanied works.

Photos above are of the third Sunday in Advent 2008, 11:00 AM worship, with the Asbury Orchestra, performing the music of Bach. Of course, the Salisbury University students have gone home for Christmas.

This past season the choir won second place in the Communion of Choirs sponsored by Mountaire, with an award of $6,500.00. They also performed a Thanksgiving Concert with almost 200 singers in the Nave, with brass and organ; and performed part of Bach's, St. Matthew Passion in the March 2, Communion Service. Palm Sunday featured festive anthems with orchestra, Krazy Kidz Singers, and Celebration Singers; and, much stunning music at both Easter services, on March 23, including the sixth movement of Brahms' Requiem.

This coming 2008/09 season, after winning the Communion of Choirs Competition, the Chancel Choir is looking forward to a very exciting and rewarding season of ministry in music. They will be hosting many “Festival Choir” open house events… times when non-members can come into limited rehearsals and join in singing, on specific occasions with the Chancel Choir, without having to make a weekly commitment to the ensemble. The choir will also be featured in concert, on Sunday, April 19, for the Christ Church Cambridge Concert Series, at 4:00 PM. This concert will feature music of the Passion and Easter Seasons, powerful music of faith. On Christmas Eve, at the 10:30 Candlelight Service, they will be performing Daniel Pinkham’s, “Christmas Cantata” accompanied by double brass quartet. April 5, 2009 will feature all singing children's and youth choirs, with the Chancel Choir, raising these mighty rafters in celebration of our Lord's Triumphant Entry in the Jerusalem; Palm Sunday, April 5. And one of the most powerful worship events of faith every season, is the celebration of our Lord's Resurrection, and the faith we all share in our own Triumphant Resurrection. We invite you to join this mighty chorus every Sunday at the 11 AM Worship Hour, as we share and encourage each other in our faith.

Updated as of Tuesday, June 3, 2008