Music || Emmaus United Church of Christ

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Music

The music program at Emmaus is comprised of an Adult Choir and a Children's Choir, and is organized by the Director of Music, Associate Director of Music, and Director of the Children's Choir. The Adult Choir sings every week from September to June, and the Children's Choir sings monthly. In addition to the choirs, soloists are frequently used in the services, and instrumentalists join the service from time to time. Both Paul Patton and Greg Bloy play the organ for our services and the piano on a regular basis.

Children's Choir

The Children's Choir is for ages 3-13ish — they can sing longer if they are comfortable. We typically have between 12 and 20 kids on a given week. The rehearsal happens during church, during the last 10-15 minutes of Sunday School. Kids are collected from the classrooms and taught in the middle room (the one with the piano). The Children's Choir typically sings about once a month from September through Easter. Then we focus on the Children's Sunday program, which includes singing. We also have an email list so that parents are notified of dates and times if we need to meet before church. Contact Nancy Osborne to be added to the email list.

Adult Choir

The Adult Choir at Emmaus currently has about 15 members and sings a diverse repertoire of church choral music, ranging from classical, to traditional church music from various traditions, to spirituals and some contemporary music. Emmaus possesses a rather extensive choral library of significant size. The Choir rehearses weekly from 9:00 to 10:15 am on Sundays before the 10:30 am service. Anyone who is 16 years or older is eligible. An ability to read music, at least at a basic level, is a requirement. Anyone interested in joining the Choir should contact Paul Patton or Laurie Barber, the Chair of the Music Committee.

Music Directors

Paul Patton, Director of Music

Paul is an accomplished church musician. He recently left the staff of Holy Comforter in Vienna after serving there for 12 years. He attended the Yale Divinity School Institute of Sacred Music and Art, and served in a number of conducting and music positions at Yale and elsewhere in Connecticut. Prior to attending Yale, Paul served as Pianist/Rehearsal Pianist for the New York City Ballet, one of the finest orchestras in the world as well as the Dutch National Opera before that. Currently, he is the Director of the Vienna Choral Society and the Accompanist for Voce. Learn more about Paul.

Greg Bloy, Associate Director of Music

Greg brings his unique talent and vision to Emmaus at least once a month, mostly on Communion Sundays, when Paul is off. In the time Greg has been with us, he has become a joyous and enjoyable presence, adding a certain spirit and touch to each service. Greg will be rejoining Emmaus in March, and is currently on call at another church, covering for a maternity leave. Listen to some of Greg's recordings.