Directors
Becky DieboldDirector for Chancel Choir and Carillonneurs
Wendy Bittner- Director for PraiSing and ReBellion
- Accompanist for the Chancel Choir
Sallie Ramelot- Director for Celebration Ringers and Prime Chime
“TELLING THE TALE OF THE TELLERS”
In the early 1960’s, when Stan Niebrugge was the pastor at First Presbyterian Church, he was aware that the 1927 E.M. Skinner pipe organ needed to be replaced. He appointed a committee of church members to address the situation. Dr. Herb Wormhoudt was appointed as chair of the committee, while other members were John Van Der Ploeg, Mrs. H.L. Pollard,
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Music
Chancel Choir
Chancel Choir is a vocal choir made up of adults and any of high school age who would like to participate. The choir sings for most Sunday morning services during the school year and rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 – 9:00 pm. Most of the anthems are 4-part and range from Renaissance and Romantic to traditional and contemporary. The choir also participates in special services such as Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Christmas Eve. There are also times when the choir sings in the community at occasions like the city Christmas Tree Lighting, or the Martin Luther King Day observances.
There are no auditions for this choir; the only requirement is to be an enthusiastic participant in rehearsals and services.
The Carillonneurs are a group of thirteen adult handbell ringers. This choir participates in Sunday services approximately once a month during the school year and rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. The church has five octaves of Schulmerich handbells, as well as five octaves of handchimes. This group rings challenging music with verve and expertise. It is imperative that each ringer reads music and is able to be at most rehearsals. This group has no current openings, but substitutes are gladly used when needed.
This is the beginning handbell and handchime ringing group for anyone 4th grade through high school who would like to learn to ring . It is not currently rehearsing.
This is a group for ringers who are not yet experienced enough to ring with the Carillonneurs. It rings handchimes exclusively.
PraiSing
PraiSing is a vocal choir for those in Middle School and High School, with rehearsals on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. The choir participates in worship approximately every three or four weeks, with occasional participation in special services. The anthems are usually two or three part, and lean more toward the contemporary side, with some more traditional anthems occasionally found in the mix. Occasionally this choir serves as a praise band, with percussion and guitars.
This choir does not require auditions, and is open to anyone in that age group.
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ReBellion
This is a handbell choir for Middle and High School ringers which rehearses on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 pm. The group participates in worship and special services throughout the year. This choir also uses the five octaves of Schulmerich handbells, as well as five octaves of handchimes. The music rung by this group ranges from traditional bell music to more contemporary settings.
Some prior experience in ringing is a requirement, as is some ability to read music. More ringers are welcome, at the discretion of the director.
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