Vision
Our vision is to create a community where music brings people together, transcending differences and fostering a shared experience of worship and connection.
Who We Are
Our Music Ministries bring together people of all ages, from grade school through adulthood, who are passionate about connecting deeply with each other and our congregation through the power of music.
Our team comprises of talented professional musicians and instrumentalists and volunteers
We welcome everyone, including those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex, as well as people from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
We are committed to providing a safe, inclusive and open environment where everyone can lift their voices to praise God.
Free Concert!
Choral Music Concert: I Will Give Thanks
A love offering collected on the day of the concert is suggested to benefit The Baby Fold, supporting their vital work in our community.
Mark your calendars and invite your friends and family to join us for an afternoon of uplifting music and heartfelt worship. Let us come together to give thanks through the gift of choral music!
Internationally known composer, Craig Courtney, is native of Indiana and began playing the piano at the age of 3 and the cello at the age of 11. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance from the University of Cincinnati, studying piano under Raymond Dudley and chamber music under Walter Levin of the LaSalle Quartet. During that time, he was a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda Honorary Music Society.
Following a three-year stay in Milan, Italy, where Courtney studied the piano with Illonka Deckers, performed for the Associazione Musicale "Gustav Mahler," and worked extensively as a vocal coach, he was invited to join the music faculty of the famed Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, serving as piano teacher and accompanist for the woodwind and brass department.
It was during this six-year period, while serving in the music ministry of the Salzburg International Baptist Church, that Courtney began directing a church choir and composing sacred choral music, due to the unavailability of English language music. In 1985, his compositions came to the attention of John Ness Beck through the publication of his octavo, Thy Will Be Done, initiating a close working relationship between the two men that continued until Beck’s death in 1987. In making plans for the ongoing of Beckenhorst Press, Beck appointed Craig Courtney to assume his responsibilities as staff composer and editor.
At this point in time, Courtney’s published works include more than 400 choral octavos, nine vocal collections, three piano solo collections and seven extended works for choir and orchestra. His music is performed world-wide and has been translated into multiple foreign languages. He has been a frequent recipient of ASCAP achievement awards and his composition, Peace I Give to You, was awarded first place in the 2003 John Ness Beck Foundation competition. He is also in demand throughout the world as a choral clinician and featured composer.
For more information about our upcoming concerts and future events, please see the calendar or contact Nander Novaes, Director of Music Ministries, nnovaes@
CHANCEL CHOIR
Rehearsals: Wednesdays at 7:00pm to 8:00pm
Performs Regularly at Sunday 9:30am Traditional Worship
No audition necessary
The Chancel Choir is a dedicated and talented group of singers who perform on our traditional worship service on Sundays @ 9:30am. We encourage anyone with a call and passion for singing to join us!
Contact Nander Novaes, Director of Music Ministries, nnovaes@normalfirst.org
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC ENSEMBLE
HAND BELL CHOIR
KIDS @ NORMAL FIRST MUSIC
INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE