Knox Music Ministries
Regardless of your age or musical background, there’s a place for you in music ministry at Knox. Children and young people have a rich assortment of opportunities to praise God through our LOGOS ministry: see the LOGOS page for details. (High school youth may also choose to join any of our vocal or instrumental groups, listed below.) If you’re a student in university or college, with some musical gifts to share, you may wish to apply for a scholarship and gain some valuable experience in any of our music ministries. (See Chris for more information.)There’s something for everyone here!
Sanctuary Choir… This dedicated group of singers provides weekly leadership for our congregation’s sung praise throughout a nine-month season (early September through early June). The choir presents weekly anthems in a wide variety of styles, plus special music at Christmas and Easter, while learning valuable musical skills and healthy vocal techniques for all stages of life. Can’t commit to a full season? No problem! Join us for the fall, Advent/Christmas, or Lent/Easter… You’ll be glad you did!
Rehearsals: Thursdays, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. in the Chapel.
Handbell Choir: “Revelation Ringers”… This is an opportunity to be involved in something really different and exciting: discovering the art of ringing English handbells. Our ensemble practises weekly and takes part in Sunday worship about once a month. We have room for both novice and experienced ringers; come and have fun with us!
Rehearsals: Thursdays, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. in the MacGillivray Room.
Instrumental Group: “Psalm 150”… Whether you play drums in a garage band, trumpet in a school orchestra, or guitar for your own pleasure, come and jam with us! We meet from mid-September to mid-June, learning contemporary songs and choruses from all over the world and enhancing the musical praise of our choir and congregation two to three times a month. And we’re not afraid to arrange on the fly, for whoever happens to show up!
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m., in the Sanctuary.
Chris is also seeking a willing contingent of children (and parents) to meet a few minutes before worship on Sunday mornings in Metcalf Hall, to learn songs for Children’s Worship times. If you can make it for 10:10 a.m. on Sundays, we can make “A Joyful Noise” together! Call or e-mail Chris today!
Finally, if you like to sing hymns, and would like to get together informally with other people who like to sing hymns, Chris would like to talk to you! We tried a Thursday afternoon hymn sing last May, but heard that the day/time was not ideal, though the concept was good… What do you think?
For more information, please contact:
Chris Fischer, Director of Music Ministries
(519) 821-0141
chris@knoxguelph.ca
Director of Music Ministries:
Christopher Fischer joined the staff of Knox Presbyterian Church in May 2006. He holds a Master of Music degree in choral music education from Arizona State University and an Honours Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from Wilfrid Laurier University, as well as diplomas from the Western Ontario Conservatory of Music and the Royal Canadian College of Organists. Raised a Roman Catholic (and at one time a candidate for the priesthood), he has served as a pastoral musician for eighteen years in congregations representing two countries and four Christian traditions.
Chris has sung with a number of professional choirs (including the Elora Festival Singers, Arcady – with whom he has been featured on two CD’s – and the Guelph Chamber Choir, with whom he toured Austria and the Czech Republic in 2006), and has worked for several years throughout southern Ontario as a conductor and accompanist (with the Brampton Festival Singers, Milton Choristers and Guelph Youth Singers). He maintains an active private voice, piano and organ studio, and is also frequently engaged as a soloist by regional choirs and orchestras (including the Boris Brott National Academy Orchestra, the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, the Grand River Chorus and the Menno Singers.
Prior to his arrival at Knox, Chris served the congregations of Dublin Street United Church (Guelph) and Knox Presbyterian Church (Milton) as Director of Music Ministries, and was the organist and Music Associate at University Presbyterian Church in Tempe, Arizona. A long-time member of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians (USA) and the Royal Canadian College of Organists, he was appointed to the Presbyterian Church in Canada’s Worship Advisory Group from 1999 to 2001, where he shared in the production of a promotional video for the PCC’s Book of Praise.
Here at Knox, Chris plays the organ and piano in all worship services, conducts the Sanctuary Choir, the Bell Choirs and the Praise Team, and serves as the Worship Skills Coordinator for the church’s LOGOS Programme for children and youth. He has a mandate to expand the role of music in the life of the whole congregation, for all ages, and looks forward to the continued growth and development of this important ministry.
Chris lives in Guelph with his wife, Sarah Wilhelm, and together they try to keep up with their young daughter, Sophie.
Page Owner: Chris Fischer