Mount Olive offers opportunities for both choral and instrumental musicians.
- Cantorei. Composed of more than 40 men’s and women’s voices, the Cantorei is the parish’s principal choir. Directed by Cantor David Cherwien, the choir sings at the second liturgy on most Sundays and on most holy days throughout the year. Aside from anthems, the Cantorei often sings parts of the liturgy, making it less a performance group than an integral part of worship. The Cantorei is open to members and nonmembers. Contact the cantor for more information.
- Instrumental opportunities. Several members and guests are accomplished musicians who contribute often to the congregation’s liturgies. Send an email to David Cherwien for more information.
- Children’s music. Our young are not just the church of tomorrow, they are an integral part of the church today! The choir school not only celebrates the joy of music and singing together, this tremendous gift is applied to our liturgies – helping the young be full participants as part of the assembly, or as leaders in our weekly liturgies. They are taught a variety of things to sing: plain fun-to-sing things, psalm settings and antiphons, small liturgical leadership roles, hymns, up to full anthems. Names for the Lower and Upper Elementary Choirs will be decided upon by the groups themselves.
Children’s Choirs at Mount Olive
Mount Olive Family Music – For families with young people from age 0 through Kindergarten*. This is an Online (Zoom) session offered Monday evenings from 5:30-6:00 pm beginning September 19, 2022. The curriculum used will be “Friends in God’s World” of Musikgarten. Each household will be given a packet of hand-instruments, a CD, and other visual materials which will be used. Led by Mari Espeland.
Choir School Dinner 5:30-6:00, beginning Wednesday, September 14, 2022. Enjoy handy culinary art for supper before rehearsal, anticipating the dinner-time journey here for in-person choir. All family members of both Lower and Upper Elementary choirs are invited to partake, grown-up or not. Meals are prepared in one of three ways: Families host an evening (sign-ups will be out) and would bring and prepare everything, families have food brought to Mount Olive, Chef Cantor Cherwien prepares, or the church provides everything. Menus have included child friendly delights such as: Frozen Pizza, chicken nuggets and Tater-tots, Wienie Wrap, Mac and cheese and Kielbasa, capped off after rehearsal with our famous Mount Olive Oreo Cookies.
Lower Elementary in-Person Choir: Grades 1-3*, Wednesdays, 6:00-6:45, beginning on September 14. Sing, say, dance, and play as beloved children of God learning how to be worship participants and worship leaders. Music literacy will be approached with an active rote to note process. This choir will sing in the 10:45 Liturgy approximately every 6 weeks, and will combine with the Upper Elementary choir on Christmas Eve for the 4:00 pm service. This group will be led by Mari Espeland.
Upper Elementary in-Person Choir: Grades 4 and up*. Wednesdays, 6:00-6:45, beginning on September 14. (upper limit can be determined by the interest of the singer – helper/leadership roles are helpful and often appropriate for singers on the older side of school age). This group includes many activities including singing, rhythm, story time, and learning about reading music from a score. This choir will sing approximately every 6 weeks and will combine with the Lower Elementary Choir on Christmas Eve for the 4:00 pm service. This group is led by Rebekah Schulz.* We have used “grades” instead of ages. This is to match typical learning of those grades in school – such as reading capability. We realize precise ages vary depending on many factors – our hope is to focus on cognitive abilities appropriate to the group’s activities.
Click here for a downloadable brochure with information about Children’s Choirs.
