Sing to the Lord a New Song
The Music Ministries of First Baptist Huntsville seek to glorify God in Christ, communicating the Gospel in vibrant and creative fashion. Music groups are provided for every age from preschoolers through "experienced adults" and exhibit a remarkable breadth in style as well as a deep commitment to excellence. Our music ministries involve hundreds of persons on a regular basis through worship leadership, rehearsals/preparations, educational activities, and mission endeavors.
Sanctuary Choir, Hallelujah Choir, and Sanctuary Chamber Singers lead in worship on Sunday mornings and for special FBC events. These groups sing a remarkable repertoire chosen and prepared to bring glory to Almighty God. Rehearsals are filled with great music-making, fellowship, and prayer as both the mind AND the heart are engaged in preparations and worship.
Grades 7-12 Led by Micah Walley, Karen Anderson and Sherry and John Christy. Student Music and Student Band meet each Sunday afternoon from August - May, and Snack Supper is provided.
Music Friends for Preschool through Kindergarten and First Kids Music for 1st through 6th grade meet each Wednesday afternoon at 5:45 - 6:30 p.m. (August - May). For more information, please contact Esther Kim, Associate Minister of Music, at esther.kim@fbchsv.org or call (256) 428-9423.
Handbells (Mosaic Ringers), instrumental ensembles (First Baptist Brass; FBC Big Band; Heavy Metal No-Strings-Attached; Woodwind Choir), contemporary praise bands (First Fellowship and Student), and a 60-piece orchestra (FBC Orchestra) are all vibrant parts of the instrumental opportunities at FBC.
Opus 48 concerts, Master Classes, special concerts ranging from bluegrass to Brahms, the Living Christmas Tree, and our annual Cosmic Art and Music Camp are just the beginning of our many special events. Look here for more information.
Check out the many instruments and resources, including our music libraries.
music and worship offerings
Choral Groups for Adults
Rehearses Wednesdays in the Choir Room from 6:45 – 8:15 p.m. throughout the year. The Sanctuary Choir helps to lead worship each Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. The choir is well-known to our community and region due to the live broadcast of the Sanctuary Worship each week (WHNT-19) and the annual presentations of The Living Christmas Tree. Recent years have seen the choir featured at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC and in concert with numerous professional musicians.
Rehearses Mondays in the Choir Room from 10:15 – 11:30 a.m. from September through May. Known for its remarkable warmth of fellowship and fun-loving activities, the choir sings occasionally in worship services as well as in various community locations.
First Baptist Chamber Singers is a select ensemble drawn from the larger Sanctuary Choir. Membership varies from project to project. The Chamber Singers provide music for special worship services, for occasional morning worship services, and for unique projects such as the recent presentations of Karl Jenkins’ Requiem at Messiah Lutheran Church and at Asbury Methodist Church, accompanied by the HYO. The most recent appearance was in conjunction with the FBC/HCCA Hodie presentation.
First Students Music
The Praise Band leads in worship every Wednesday evening during First Students Liftoff (5:45 p.m., August – May) as well as accompanying First Students Music for Sunday worship services and special events. Praise Band practices on Sunday afternoons immediately before the First Students Music rehearsal.
For students grades 7-12, First Students Music encompasses choir and band. Students lead in worship and prepare music for a variety of special events.
In 2020, our First Students Music will be serving in music missions in the San Francisco Bay area. Past music missions have gone to Chicago, Canada, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC.
First Kids Music
Wednesday evenings, 5:45pm-6:30pm. In addition to singing techniques, our children's music program provides lessons in music history, rhythm, hymn studies, and more. Our dedicated music teachers also invest in the spiritual development of the children of our church and community. All children are invited to join us on Wednesday nights! For more information, please contact Esther Kim, Associate Minister of Music.
Music Camp will return in 2022! You are warmly invited to bring your children on Wednesday nights starting with a special kickoff picnic on August 11 for Music and Missions. For First Kids Music, meeting Wednesday nights from 5:45-6:30pm this year, we’ll be using a format that is very similar to Music Camp…including a variety of music-related activities and preparing a special musical! Watch for detailed information later this summer to all our First Kids parents and to parents of form
Instrumental Opportunities
The FBC Orchestra is an integral participant and leader in worship, providing musical presence and support for many special presentations, including The Living Christmas Tree and the Spring/Easter concerts. Known for its extraordinary programming of worship and concert repertoire, members of the FBC Orchestra come from all walks of life, representing a unique inter-generational blend of ages and musical backgrounds. The group gathers each Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. for rehearsal.
Meets Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in Rm 240 and is directed by Sherry Christy/Emily Parker. For intermediate to advanced handbell ringers. The Mosaic Ringers ring regularly in Sanctuary Worship as well as Music Ministry concerts throughout the year. They have played several years in our annual Living Christmas Tree program.
Our First Fellowship Praise Band leads in worship every Sunday during First Fellowship, and rehearses on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. In addition to Sunday mornings, this praise band also performs at special events throughout the year.
Special Events
Presented annually since 1984, The Living Christmas Tree is FBC’s Christmas gift to the city, featuring over 150 singers, a 60-piece orchestra, and literally thousands of lights! Multiple volunteers help to plan, promote, construct, decorate and perform on the Tree. YOU are invited to participate! Click the link to find out more, or contact our Music Ministry Office (musicministries@fbchsv.org) or 256-428-9421.
We believe that the development and sharing of God-given talents is part of our Christian stewardship of life and resources. This philosophy is foundational to FBC Music Ministry endeavors. The OPUS 48 Artists Series offers a venue for concerts, lectures and master classes and an opportunity for music ministry participants to share their artistry in the name of Christ.
Resources
-80-rank Casavant Pipe Organ in the Sanctuary -12-rank Reuter Pipe Organ in the Chapel -Steinway Pianos in the Sanctuary -Yamaha Grand Piano in the Chapel -Boston Grand Piano in the Choir Room -Boston Grand Piano in the Gathering Place -Lyon & Healy harp, 85 -CG concert pedal harp -Lyon & Healy harp, -Prelude lever harp -Orchestral Instruments -Numerous pianos -Drum sets & Orchestral Instruments -Children’s Instruments -Carillon—48 cast bronze bells (Verdin) housed in the bell tower
-Choral -Orchestral -Handbell -Solo Repertoire for singers/instrumentalists/pianists/organists -Listening and digital resources for singers and instrumentalists
For the Current Week's Order of Worship, click here:
Upcoming Music & worship events
Contemporary worship
Sundays
8:05 a.m. in the
Life Center
Sanctuary
Worship
Sundays
10:30 a.m.
in the
Sanctuary
Living Christmas tree
kickoff
september 7
Presentations
December 15-18
Meet AAron|
Minister of Music & Worship
Aaron joined the staff at First Baptist in January of 2023. He is a North Carolina native and served churches and universities in the Raleigh-Durham region for 16 years before moving to Huntsville. He holds degrees from Campbell University, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and the D.M.A. degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He and his wife Laura were married in 2010 and have two children, Julia and Barnabas.
Meet Esther|
Associate Minister of Music/organist
Esther has been with FBC since August of 2017. She received her D.M.A. in Organ Performance from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Esther and Hans are the proud parents of Diane and Joy.
Meet Micah |
Minister of Contemporary Worship
Micah joined the staff at FBC in April 2022. He has been leading worship for the last 20 years, but outside of that is always tinkering around on an instrument or writing a song. When he's not playing music he loves video games and anything outdoors. He's been married to his wife Sarah (a trauma nurse) since 2013 and they have one daughter, Emma Claire.