Music Ministries Report

Music Ministries Report

Trinity Church has a long history of outstanding music. I have served in this position since January of 2021, and have been on staff since August of 2020. It is a great privilege to continue the work of those who have preceded me, and to work with Jonathan and the church staff to come up with new ideas and programs to break new ground. What is seen and heard during worship on Sundays is just the tip of the iceberg. During the week, many church members of all ages give of their time and talent to come together and prepare music for worship. Rehearsal also provides time for fellowship and bonding, strengthening the Trinity family. Our choir members care for each other and for the total ministry of the church. In addition to working hard, we have fun too. Susan Jones welcomed the choir to her lovely home for our annual Christmas party, always a fun evening. Our dedicated section leaders in the Trinity Choir provide strong leadership for our volunteers and enrich our worship with occasional quartets and solos. Our talented music intern, Drew Young, has ably assisted me with directing the choir and has led our fledgling children’s choir since September with joy and enthusiasm..

In addition to our regular choirs, a number of guest musicians have joined us throughout the year. The Commonwealth Brass

Quintet provided thrilling music on Easter Sunday to celebrate the Resurrection. Marjory Serrano-Coyer blessed us with her beautiful playing on many occasions and brought her string quartet for Christmas Eve. We have had a variety of other instrumentalists including Brad Tatum, French horn; and John Romano, clarinet. Our handbell choir provided accompaniment for our Introits and Psalms during Advent. And Briggs Williamson is an always welcome guest when he is home from Interlochen. We have a diverse program with something for everyone

We welcomed the Blue Ridge Singers to our campus in September. This auditioned community choir, formed in 2009 in Warren County and directed by Dr. Jeffrey Alban, now rehearses in Cox Hall every Tuesday evening September-May. Their bi-annual concerts have been well received and have brought many new people into our church. The Loudoun County based Master Singers of Virginia performed their annual service of Lessons and Carols in December and Winchester Musica Viva also performed a holiday program. We are fortunate to welcome these performing groups to Trinity and hope that they will return.

In addition to choirs, several outstanding graduate piano students from Shenandoah performed recitals during 2022.

“Our choir members care for each other and for the total ministry of the church.”

Szymon Czerniak, David Lecuyer and Noah Alden Hardaway are all students of Irish pianist and teacher John O’Conor, chair of the piano department at Shenandoah. Their performances were well received.

On the first Sunday of Lent, the Shenandoah Conservatory Choir joined us for a beautiful service of Choral Evensong, directed by Dr. Matt Oltman. Dr. Steven Cooksey and the choir of St James Episcopal Church, Leesburg combined with our choir for another Choral Evensong in October. On Good Friday, our noon service centered around the Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross, with music by our section leaders Our Trinity Choir also sang a lovely service of Advent Lessons and Carols on the Sunday before Christmas. The choir also sang for several memorial services and even one wedding in 2020.

Austrian concert organist Lukas Hasler visited Trinity on his American concert tour in February and played an outstanding organ recital to honor the memory of Hurst K. Groves, a great organ music lover and fundraiser to help complete the refurbishment of our beautiful Aeolian-Skinner organ. Lukas made quite an impression on all who attended. In fact, we invited him to come back in the fall and bring his choir with him. By far the most memorable event

of 2022 was the visit to Upperville of the PaltenKlang Choir from Graz, Austria and their director, Lukas Hasler. The community stretched out its arms and welcomed these 31 singers into their homes for 6 days, and our staff worked diligently to coordinate concerts in Washington, Winchester, Leesburg and Upperville. We also organized tours of Washington, Oak Springs Garden Foundation, Oatlands Plantation, and even held a wonderful Halloween party in Cox Hall. The tremendous outpouring of support by the community was incredible. From volunteer van drivers to those who provided meals and hosted tours of area farms, we gave them a memorable time. Many of the choir members had never been to the US before and were thrilled for this opportunity.

Our Music Ministry is committed to maintaining the highest standards both musically, theologically, and pastorally as we continue to live into our mission statement: “It is our mission to enable and encourage all members of the parish to share in the experience of glorifying God through music; to teach together the skills of music and the practices of faith; and to build the body of Christ through worship, rehearsal, outreach, and fellowship, using music as an instrument of God’s peace.”

“By far the most memorable event of 2022 was the visit to Upperville of the PaltenKlang Choir from Graz, Austria and their director, Lukas Hasler. The community stretched out its arms and welcomed these 31 singers into their homes for 6 days…”

Daniel J. Miller Director of Music Ministries & Organist