Church Music Program:

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Our Director:   James Barkovic

Jim’s major concentration while at the New England Conservatory was piano though he studied organ for two years in his teens in International Falls with the accomplished organist, Brother Patrick McGee, who was assigned to his home parish. Jim’s improvisation skills have been nurtured by William Porter during his graduate studies at the New England Conservatory. Jim is into his second decade as our director and he is much beloved in the community.

Jim encourages musical talent of any kind and enthusiastically incorporates it into his yearly programming for the church.

Choirs

The church sponsors senior, junior and bell choirs.

The senior choir meets on Wednesday evenings at 7:45 and practices for 1 ½ hours. Audition is not required, all skills and talents are welcomed. Common practice is to augment the choir for special music events scheduled throughout the church year with those with time constraints.

The junior choir meets Sunday right after church service and usually performs once a month. It is guided and encouraged by Vanetta Porth, a gifted teacher. In three short years she has taken the membership from startup to a substantial size of enthusiastic children who embrace her teachings.

Bell Choir has a complete set of handbells that were donated to the church by Anna Damon in 1991. The group contributes their disciplined work to church services at least once a month, sometimes more often during important liturgical times of the year. Backup membership opportunities are generally available though upon occasion openings occur due to life events within the congregation.

Brass Ensemble

During the church year traditional times for brass arise, notably Christmas and Easter, though in many other instances various combinations of brass musicians join together to add emphasis to liturgically happenings.   The array of options ranges from solos, duets, trios, quartets and additional combinations such as brass quintet and beyond.   We are always seeking folks who have an interest in joining these groupings.   The usual profile is one of someone who played a brass instrument during the education years and hasn’t done much with the instrument since.   Skill sets vary widely and combinations are assembled to match the interests and abilities.

Other

In general, if a person has a music related interest it can be accommodated by our programming. For example, piano and reed instrumentalists have made particularly impressive contributions. We are not limited in our thinking about what music is and are continually wandering “outside the box” in looking for unique combinations and possibilities

Our Keyboard Equipment

The West Concord Union Church is blessed to have a fine tracker action organ and an exceptional, recently donated Steinway grand piano.

The sanctuary is increasingly the site for music offerings both in sacred service and as a venue for other talented musicians. For example; the Concord Madrigals have graced us with their exceptional programming, the Bala Brass Quintet uses our facilities as home base and the British group, BLISS started their North American tour in our sanctuary.

Come, join us!

Telephone:  978-369-6309       Email:  Office@WestConcordUnionChurch.org