Music
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An Update from Heather, 1/10/2012
While the material aspects of our Music Department were destroyed by fire, our hearts are full of gratitude for the many, many kindnesses we have been shown. In particular, I would like to thank:
- Green's Farms Congregational Church and JoAnne LaBella, their Office Manager, for assisting in making copies of anthems for our choir to use
- Eileen Hunt, Edward Thompson and members of the Fairfield West County, American Guild of Organists, for their continued support in too many ways to list
- First Church of Christ Congregational, UCC of West Hartford and their Music Director, James Boratko, for loaning us hymnals and choir robes
- The Unitarian Church in Westport for the use of their Meetinghouse for chancel choir rehearsals
- Saint James Music Press for use of their database of more than 20,000 anthems, solos, piano and organ works
- Austin Organs and Steinway & Sons for coming within 72 hours to evaluate our instruments
- Music Directors from all over who provided me with databases of their anthems and free reign as needed to the music in their libraries:
- Caesar Storlazzi, United Church on the Green, New Haven
- Craig Scott Symons, The First Congregational Church of Greenwich
- Eileen Hunt, Green’s Farms Congregational Church, Westport
- EdWard Thompson, Unitarian Church in Westport
- John Abdenouer, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fairfield
- John Michniewicz, United Congregational Church of Bridgeport
- And other friends who are music directors, ministers/priests and staff from the following:
- First Church Congregational, United Church of Christ, Fairfield
- Norfolk Church of Christ Congregational
- St. Thomas More Church, Darien
- Fairfield Grace United Methodist Church
- St. James the Less Episcopal Church, Scarsdale, NY
- Congregational Church of Easton
- Wilton Congregational Church
- Norfield Congregational Church, Weston
- St. Matthews UMC, Sandown, NH
- The Rockingham Church, Plaistow, NH
- And others I am sure I have forgotten!
Thank you to everyone who helped make Saugatuck Sings a huge success!
Welcome Dr. Hamilton!
July 27, 2011
Dr. Heather Hamilton
The Board of Deacons is thrilled to welcome Dr. Heather Hamilton to Saugatuck Congregational Church as Director of Music beginning with the fall season. Heather is bursting with enthusiasm and ideas for the music program at Saugatuck and will be working with the new Music Ministry Team begun by the Board of Deacons to create joyful, meaningful, high quality, varied musical experiences for the enhancement of worship, the furthering of Saugatuck’s ministry, and the greater glory of God.
Dr. Hamilton is no stranger to Saugatuck: we enjoyed her talents as a choir conductor and organist when she filled in as Interim Music Director during our last music director search. She served as full-time Music Director and Organist at First Church Congregational, Fairfield from 1996-2004. Heather is well-known in the local music community and has served as substitute organist for many area churches including our own. Most recently she has been serving as Organist at the First Church of Christian Scientists, Westport. She holds two Masters degrees in Music and last spring earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Bridgeport. Heather is a frequent guest lecturer in the Lifelong Learners program at the Fairfield Senior Center among other venues. Currently she resides in Fairfield where she is the owner of Hamilton Music Services, teaching beginner through advanced piano, as well as theory, history and composition to children and adults of all ages.
So get ready for a whole lot of joyful noise!
Music Ministry Team of the Board of Deacons
Susie Benton
Doug Johnston
Gayle Martin Henry
The Music Ministry Team welcomes all volunteers in the Saugatuck Church family — both nuclear and extended — to enrich our worship service by sharing your musical talents with us. Whether you sing, play a musical instrument, or both, please speak with a member of the Music Ministry Team or Heather Hamilton.
Thank you!
Susie Benton, Team Leader; Doug Johnston; John Canning; Gayle Martin Henry
Music at Saugatuck Congregational Church serves the people of God by providing an elevation of praise in our worship services. Everything we do musically is for the greater glory of God and to focus our hearts on doing God's work each and every week.
Music is provided each week at our Sunday morning services in many different varieties and styles. We have explored music from Gregorian Chants to new works "hot off the presses." In the past, performances of J.S. Bach's Magnificat and Maurice Duruflés’ Requiem have graced our Sanctuary. Our choirs have also explored the many gems of sacred music that serve to lift our hearts and minds to the Creator.
Musical Instruments
Our choir loft after the devastating November 2011 fire at Saugatuck Congregational Church |
One of the pianos destroyed in the fire |
Unfortunately, as a result of the fire that struck our church on November 20th, our musical instruments were destroyed — including our 3-manual 1960 Austin organ, our Steinway grand piano, our practice instruments, and the full set of Orff instruments used in our Youth Music program. We look forward to rebuilding our Music Department and are deeply grateful for all the support and help we have received from area churches and Music Directors as well as the wider community.
Adult Choirs at Saugatuck
Adult Choir
The Sanctuary Choir is 20-strong with a core professional quartet of experienced singers. In recent years, the choir has presented Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah, Gian Carlo Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Ottorino Respighi's Laud to the Nativity.
The Saugatuck Choir presents a work each year jointly with The Congregational Church of Green's Farms Choir. In 2009, this wonderful concert featured selections from G.F. Handel’s Messiah, Part Two.
The Adult Sanctuary Choir meets on Thursdays at 8 PM. Membership is open to all interested singers in Saugatuck and in the greater Westport community; please contact any member of our Music Ministry Team if you are interested in joining us.
Members of the congregation join in singing the "Hallelujah Chorus"
Special Music
Gayle Martin Henry Concert
During the course of our music program, we have been blessed with the many talents of our staff and church members. While traditional organ music has been presented, we have also experimented with using a solo oboe or English Horn as the prelude instrument during a special Holy Week service. The Good News Gospel Choir and the St. Louis Women's Chorale have appeared as guests in our sanctuary.
Youth Music
Youth Choir
It's a new season of singing at Saugatuck!
Calling all singers, Kindergarten through 8th Grade. Join us and have fun, learn to sing on pitch, and share the joy of song in worship. Rehearsals will be on Sunday mornings from 11:30AM – Noon. Donuts and juice will be provided too.
The music of our children is a vital part of our worship at Saugatuck — come and share your gift of music with everyone!
For questions, email our Music Director, Heather Hamilton