Music Ministry

 

"Sing to the Lord a new song... "

- Psalm 149

The music ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood is very strong, and manifests itself in many different ways. These include an adult Sanctuary Choir, Senior and Junior Handbell Choirs, special guest musicians, a collaboration with the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra, a Recital Series, gifted instrumentalists and soloists, and a beautifully restored 4-manual Möller pipe organ.

Staff

Shaun Cloonan, Director of Music
Jon J. Danzak, Organist
Sonomi Sakai, Pianist
Mia Fuqua, Section Leader

Patti Mielke, Choral Librarian

Martha Crean & Matt Lehrian, Junior Bell Choir Directors

 

 

Sanctuary Choir

The FPCE Sanctuary Choir is made up of volunteer members and paid section leaders who perform during the anthem and offertory times of the Sunday morning service. During the Advent and Lenten seasons, the choir provides special music (cantatas, musical theater songs, world music, music with brass and strings, and others). In December, the choir joins with area church music ministries for the Wilkinsburg Sings fundraising event. In the past, the FPCE Sanctuary Choir has also sung with the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra, South Avenue United Methodist Church Choir, First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh Choir, CCAC Boyce Choir, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church Choir, and the Woodland Hills High School A Cappella Choir. Any who feel the call upon their heart to share their musical gifts are welcome to join this friendly group of singers. Rehearsals are Sunday Mornings at 9:30AM in the Choir Room.

Click on the files below to hear the songs that will be performed during Advent and Christmas 2008:

Do Not Be Afraid
A Cradle in the Shadow of a Cross
Child in the Manger
Christmas Light
Go Tell It On the Mountain
Away in a Manger

Junior Bells

Several years ago, FPCE purchased a set of choir chimes, tubular bells with strikers attached to the outside, which are easier to produce a tone than traditional handbells. These choir chimes have proven very successful in attracting our youth to playing. Director Martha Crean goes to great lengths to color-code and enlarge the music that the Junior Bells perform, which usually takes place once in Advent and again for the Sunday School Celebration in June.

The Edgewood Organ

The first pipe organ of the Edgewood Presbyterian Church was installed in 1917 by Casavent Frères, Lte. company of Canada. This organ served the church until 1967 when, under budgetary constriants, the failing organ was replaced with a modest-sized Möller organ, built in Hagerstown, Maryland. The console from the original organ had been retained until funds became available for a new one. In quite serious condition, the console was finally replaced in 1978 with a generously sized 4-manual Möller console built to match the intricately carved oak of the sanctuary and organ case.

In 1992, the console was rebuilt with a new solid-state combination action which replaced the old, air-driven, pneumatic combination action. Less than two years later, the entire Antiphonal organ had to be shut down completely and it was apparent that substantial repairs were imminent. In 1998, a fundraising campaign began to rebuild the organ and to purchase a keyboard. The Organ Fund Committee launched the campaign, "Music for the Millennium" on Easter Sunday, 1999.

In 2001, the instrument renovation was completed. It is one of magnificence, a true statement to the wonder and majesty of Almighty God, whose praises First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood now sing with more excitement than ever before.

To see the full organ specifications, click here.

 

FPCE took an organizational hiatus of the concert series in 2007-08

As part of the "Music for the Millennium" Organ Fund campaign, a Recital Series was created to not only raise funds for the renovations to the organ, but also to raise the cultural awareness of the Edgewood and surrounding communities by providing first-rate musical performances. Past Recital Series concerts have included solo and duo piano, solo vocal, chamber music, jazz, choral, and organ programs. Performers have included organist Dr. Gordon Turk, members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, The "Blues on First" Pittsburgh Jazz String Quartet, and the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh Touring Choir.

The 2006-2007 series included:

December 3	Organ Concert  - Cynthia Pock, organist, First Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh PA
December 9	Edgewood Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert  with the choirs of FPCE and St. Maurice Parish
March 3	Edgewood Symphony Orchestra: “Love and Transformation”
April 28	Mulberry Jazz Festival, hosted by Bob Studebaker featuring Chuck Austin Quartet, singer Sandy Dowe, and students from CAPA HS sponsored by Mulberry Ministries, Inc., Mellon Jazz, and WDUQ-FM
May 20	“The Gospel According to Jazz” featuring Cross Culture Ensemble Calvin Stemley, saxophone; Sunny Sakai, piano/keyboard Ben Pattak, Drums; Dan Wasson, Electric Bass
June 3	Organ Concert - John A. Morabito, organ scholar, Shadyside Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh PA

 

Edgewood Symphony Orchestra Partnership

First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood is proud to be the home of the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra for two subscription series concerts each season. The Annual Christmas Spectacular is held in the FPCE Sanctuary each December, and in some years has included performances with the Sanctuary Choir. The ESO closes their season in May each year with a concert at the church.