Music at Trinity The Praise Worship Musicians are a group of singers and an ensemble of various instrumentalists who lead the music weekly at the Praise Worship service in the Fellowship Hall. This team of dedicated people also work closely with the pastor in the planning process of this service. Praise Worship is our contemporary weekly liturgy held at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Membership is open to people of all ages. Rehearsals are held primarily on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. or at the discretion of the director. Instruments used include piano, electric keyboard, acoustic and electric guitars, string bass, flute, saxophone, drums, and others. Music plays an important role in the life and worship of our parish. Trinity is proud of the diversity in the music programs. Many different styles of music have been embraced by the congregation, from the music of "masters" to the more contemporary styles of music of today's Christian composers. Martin Luther, writing on the subject of music said, “I wish to see arts, principally music, in the service of Him who gave and created them. Singers are never sorrowful, but are merry and smile through their troubles in song. Music makes people kinder, gentler, more staid and reasonable. I am strongly persuaded that after theology there is no art that can be placed on a level with music; for besides theology, music is the only art capable of affording peace and joy in the heart.” Trinity has on staff a full-time Organist/Director of Music and Worship, a part-time Handbell Director, and a part-time Contemporary Worship Music Leader. About our Choirs Facilities and Instruments The congregation has over seven hundred baptized members and their voices, our most precious musical instruments, raise in worship to God. Trinity owns two electric keyboards, conga drums, and other percussion instruments that are used in our Praise Worship (Contemporary) service. The Praise Worship Musicians also use their personal musical instruments including: electric and acoustic guitars, string bass, flute, saxophone, drums, and others. The four manual, fifty-eight rank pipe organ was designed and constructed especially for Trinity by the Schantz Organ Company in Orrville, Ohio, and was installed in the fall of 1996. The organ has 3,265 pipes. The organ features a movable console and both slider and pallet wind chest construction. The pipes are located behind beautiful European style case work and pipe facades in the front of the church. Our choir rehearsal room on the second floor of the education wing easily seats sixty or more persons. The room has a Steinway grand piano, tiered seating, and a sound system. There is also a Steinway grand in the Fellowship Hall and a Weber grand in the nave. A beautiful set of Ludwig, Dresden Model, copper timpani (two drums) are used on festival Sundays and special occasions. A three-octave set of Malmark handbells and a three-octave set of Malmark hand-chimes are frequently used in worship. The west tower of the Church houses a sixteen note Deagen tubular bell carillon instrument which was installed in 1925 and rebuilt in 1997. The instrument is playable from the organ console or a keyboard in the lower tower. Also in the west tower are two bronze cast bells which are rung as the congregation gathers for worship. The Music Library located in the office of the Director of Music contains over one thousand anthems and other sacred vocal and instrumental compositions. The Trinity Concert Series The purpose of the series is to provide concerts for the members of Trinity and the community at large. The series varies from organ recitals, college and university choir concerts to programs featuring both choir and orchestra. We have also sponsored such groups as Dakota Road, a contemporary Christian group and the Raleigh Ringers, a nationally known handbell choir, and Hagerstown Choral Arts. While many of the concerts are free to the public, contributions are always needed to help perpetuate the series. Persons interested in contributing toward the series or having questions are asked to contact Dr. Clair Johannsen at 301-733-2878.