Music

**Sunday Services**
8:00 a.m. • Prayer
9:30 - 10:30 am. • Worship
10:30 - 11:00 am. • Fellowship
11:00 - 12:00 • All Age Learning

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Music Ministry

The purpose of our music ministry is to provide people who love music the opportunity to share with others the joy of singing, playing an instrument, or ringing bells as they provide music leadership in worship and enjoy Christian fellowship.

There are many opportunities to join in the music of the church. See below for volunteering or contact any of the directors.

Chancel Choir - Practice is on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm

The Chancel Choir is under the very capable direction of Dave Ryan. The choir of some 30+ singers provides music for Sunday services and other special services such as Good Friday and Christmas Worship.

Chancel Choir Sunday Schedule

Chancel Ringers - Practice on Thursdays at 7:00 pm
The Handbell Choir is directed by Sharon White. The choir currently rings five octaves of bells and occasionally adds up to five octaves of hand chimes in their musical presentations.

This handbell choir also participates in area handbell festivals.

Volunteer Opportunities to provide vocal or instrumental music during worship services

Individuals or small groups are needed to provide music in special services. This includes occasional musicals, funerals and weddings as well as Sunday Worship. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Music Director, Sharon White. Alternately, use Contact Us to leave a message at the church office.

Music Staff

Sharon White, Director of Music, Chancel Ringers Director
Sharon has been involved with the Fridley UMC music program for over twenty-five years. She began ringing handbells in 1980 when the handbell program at FUMC was created. She became the director of the Chancel Ringers adult bell choir in 1992. She continues her ringing as the director of Genesis Ringers, a community handbell group. As the Music Coordinator, she is responsible for scheduling groups and individuals to provide music for the worship services and coordinates the program with the Chancel Choir, Chancel Ringers, and Organist.

Dave Ryan, Chancel Choir Director
Dave Ryan received his BA in music education from Hamline University with an emphasis in piano, voice, and choral conducting. He received a master's degree in Musicology from the University of Minnesota. He participated in the Opera Workshop and performed lute songs as part of the Ario Consort. Dave taught public school music at Fridley High School for 19 years.

Eileen Miller, Organist and Pianist
Our organist is Eileen Miller. She has served as church organist in United Methodist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran churches in Richmond, VA, Los Angeles, and the Twin Cities before coming to Fridley UMC in 1995. Her Bachelor Arts degree in Music Education is from Jamestown College where she studied organ with William Kuhlman, Susan Hegberg, and William Wojnar. She is a member of the American Guild of Organists, having served on the executive board for the Twin Cities and Los Angeles chapters as well as Dean of the Twin Cities Chapter. Eileen teaches music at John Glenn Middle School in Maplewood and has three sons, Marcus, Andrew, and Joseph.

Musical Instruments
The church has been blessed with some very fine instruments for our music. Although not limited to these, these are the principal ones.

The Voices of Singers
Truly, the human voice is one of the wonders of the world. Think about it.

Allen Organ

This instrument was purchased by the church in 1993; it replaced a basic Allen model purchased when the Sanctuary was built in 1968. The new organ is wonderfully equipped; it has been mistaken by many listeners as a pipe organ. It has wonderful, full sounds of considerable variety. The organ is a model created by the Allen Organ Company for its 75th anniversary and the sounds are those digitally recorded from actual pipe organs. The FUMC organ was previously used by the Minnesota Orchestra for four years.

Grand Piano

The previous piano was getting a bit old (more difficult to tune?) and members of the congregation have been thinking of replacing for quite some time. In 2006 the church purchased a grand piano for use in the Sanctuary. The previous upright grand is used as the rehearsal piano.

English Handbells and Chimes
These have been given to the church, largely through Memorials; several octaves were purchased over a period of years. The handbell choir was started by its first director Dorothy Straks.

Drum Set

The drum set was given to the church to use in various programs. This was motivated in large part because we have several talented musicians who make great music using them.

Updated 9/1/2011 by bl