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Music Ministry
Our extensive, fun, and challenging music program provides people of all ages with opportunities to share their love of music and talents in various ways throughout the year. Since there are no real auditions, if you can sing or ring bells - you're in!
Our two talented music directors ensure an uplifting and spiritual musical experience every Sunday and in special services. The Chancel Choir, Ensemble Singers, and Memorial Bell Choir are for anyone of high school age or older. Children in kindergarten through seventh grade can participate in the Advent Choir. Some of our teens enjoy playing in the Youth Band.
Special music presentations are highlighted in each worship service and in special services throughout the year. Our church is blessed with talented vocal soloists and others who delight us with a trumpet, flute, piano, or violin pieces that enhance our services.
More information is provided below on the various music programs that help us praise God through music.
Calling All Singers and Ringers!
Judy Stafford
We have a very special music season planned for 2010-2011 at WUMC, and we would love to have you join us!
Chancel Choir: Our adult SATB choir will begin rehearsing for the new season on Wednesday, September 8, at 7:30 p.m. We would love to have you join us! No auditions are necessary - if you like to sing, please come. We rehearse every Wednesday and sing each Sunday for the 11:00 a.m.
Memorial Handbell Choir: Rehearsal begins on Thursday, September 9, at 7:00 p.m. We play approximately once a month on Sunday morning at the 11:00 a.m. service. If you can read music and are interested in ringing, please call Judy Stafford or Wendy Amuso.
Advent Choir: This is our children's choir that is open to any child in kindergarten through 6th grade. We will have our first rehearsal on Wednesday, September 22, at 6:30 p.m. No auditions are necessary. Our rehearsals are a fast-paced, 45 minutes. We sing on Sunday for the 11:00 a.m. service approximately once a month. We would love to include your children!
If you have any questions about our music program, please contact Judy Stafford or Wendy Amuso, our music directors. We hope to see lots of new faces involved in WUMC's music program this year!
Chancel Choir
The CHANCEL CHOIR is our adult mixed choir. Anyone of high school age or older is welcome to join our adult soprano, alto, tenor, and bass mixed choir. The Chancel Choir practices each Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. While most of our singers attend every week, if a full year commitment is too much for you to make, consider joining the choir for a season such as Advent/Christmas or Lent/Easter. Speak with one of our choir directors about what works best for you.
No auditions needed – just show up. There’s a seat waiting for you!
Ask any choir member what singing in the Chancel Choir does for them. Very likely they will say that after an exhausting day at work, it is inspirational and soothing to go to choir practice. The music lets them put the stress of the day behind, get in touch with something beautiful and holy, and end the day relaxed and uplifted. There is great joy in serving the Lord through music and wonderful fellowship among choir members. Just mention the annual pool and Christmas parties to a Chancel Choir member, and you will be convinced that singing in this choir is a terrific way to make new friends.
Join our fantastic choir directors, Judith Stafford and Wendy Amuso, next Wednesday evening for choir practice.
Advent Choir
 
If you have a child in grade kindergarten through sixth grade who likes to sing - have them join the Advent Choir. This choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Laughter and joy are the tools Judy and Wendy use to gently coax angelic music from even our shyest singers. In addition, they provide each child with a tape or CD of the songs they need to learn, which greatly assists the youngest children. If your child is interested in the Advent Choir, please e-mail Wendy or Judy or call the church (716) 634-4800 to leave a message. They will be sure to make your child feel welcome and secure.
Advent Choir 2010 Pool Party
  
The smiles on the faces of these choir members give you an idea of the fun we had at the Advent Choir Swim Party in August!
Memorial Bells
 
If you can't sing to save your soul, but you have rhythm in your heart and can read music, then the MEMORIAL BELLS might be perfect for you. The Memorial Bells perform several times each year in our worship services and at special services. They rehearse every Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. If you are high school age or older and are interested in joining this dedicated and talented group, please e-mail Wendy or Judy or call the church (716) 634-4800 to leave a message.
Click the Handbell icon above to learn more about the history of the Memorial Bells at WUMC.
Wait - There Are More Music Programs!
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CrossWinds is the contemporary praise band that provides music for the 9:00 a.m. service on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. It’s members are Steven Metivier, Fred Hawke, and Chris Watson who come to us with years of experience as professional musicians. Join them and us in earnest praise and worship.
Youth Band is composed of teens from our youth group. The Youth Band helps bring their passion for music to our worship. If your teen plays any instrument, we invite them to become part of this enthusiastic ministry. The group rehearses on Sunday afternoons from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Senior High Room.
The Ring Masters Handbell Choir is a community choir that rehearses in our sanctuary every Saturday morning. It is directed by Gloria Werblow and calls upon the talents of several excellent musicians culled from the larger community. The Ring Masters grace our worship services several times throughout the year and traditionally perform a free Christmas Concert in our worship space on a Sunday afternoon in December.
Special Music
 In addition to the music programs discussed above, our worship services are regularly enhanced by a stable of talented musicians and singers. We are blessed to have members of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale willing to play and sing for us on a regular basic. We also have many exceptionally talented youth, music teachers, soloists, and nationally recognized instrumentalists who their talents to our worship.
 Congratulations to Alexander Boissonnault (playing the violin) who was asked to perform the Wieniawski Concerto No. 2 in d minor, 3rd Movement, with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in July 2007.
Alex and Tea’ Prokes, who is also from WUMC, were featured with the Amherst Symphony Orchestra in October 2009. They performed the First and Fourth Movements of the Symphonic Espagnole by E. Lalo. Congratulations Alex and Tea’!
Christmas Music
 Our talented musicians make Christmastime so special as so many offer their gifts and talents of song and music, making what could be ordinary, extraordinary!
How we treasure their performances as they add to our church and family memories.
Christmas services are interspersed with inspiring performances by musicians of all ages who sometimes study the music from a distance, away at college, and others fitting practice into their already bustling holiday schedule. How blessed we are to have them as joyful givers of their treasure of talent and members of our church family!
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Music Announcements
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Music Photo Gallery
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 Click this icon to see photos of music events at WUMC including the 20th Anniversary Celebration in 2007 of Judy Stafford and Wendy Amuso serving as WUMC's Music Directors and the Choir's 2010 Easter Brunch.
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