Music Photos: Latest Photos for Ensembles

Contemporary Service Ensemble

Sech, Kelly — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 14:41:02 GMT

Contemporary Service Ensemble meets Saturday mornings to rehearse music for many of the weekly contemporary services at St. Lorenz. The ensemble often includes: piano; keyboard; acoustic, electric and bass guitar; drum set; flute; trumpet & saxophone.

Handbell Choirs

Sech, Kelly — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:54:42 GMT

The St. Lorenz Handbell program currently has five choirs, with ringers ranging in age from 8 to adult. We ring with two 5-octive sets of Schulmerich Bells and a 4-octave set of Schulmerich Chimes. The handbell program is designed to accommodate both experienced and novice musicians. The Parish Handbell Choir is a group of 13 experienced handbell ringers who prepare liturgical accompaniment and musical anthems for worship services. The Parish Handbell Choir participates in services, on a monthly basis, as well as the Music at St. Lorenz Christmas concert and other concert venues. Rehearsal time: Tuesdays 6:30 - 8:00 PM in the church. New Adult Handbell Choir is a group designed for beginning ringers and those experienced ringers who are looking for a more relaxed schedule. Ringers in this group learn the basics of handbell ringing techniques as they prepare music for occasional worship services and concerts. Rehearsal time: Thursdays 6:00 - 7:00 PM in the church. Voices in Bronze is a group of talented students, fifth through eighth grades who are ringing bells as an extra-curricular activity. These students prepare music for worship and chapel services, participate in the school music concerts and will represent St. Lorenz at the Lutheran Schools Music Festival. In addition, Voices in Bronze may play for special concerts and events. Rehearsal time: Tuesdays 7:00 - 7:45 AM in the school music room. Intermediate Bells is a student group for 4th through 6th graders who have had some handbell or other musical experience. These students will continue to work on handbell technique and music reading skills. The Intermediate Bells will participate in chapel services and other special events. Rehearsal time: Mondays 3:00 - 3:45 PM in the school music room. Beginning Chimes is a group of young, new musicians in the third grade. These children will play handchimes, supplemented with handbells as necessary to accommodate the group. Beginning Chimes students will learn the basic techniques of ringing chimes and bells, and will begin to learn music reading skills. Rhythm and listening activities will be included in their rehearsal time. Beginning Chimes will play for chapel services. Rehearsal time: Tuesdays 3:00 - 3:45 PM in the school music room.

Instrumental Ensembles

Sech, Kelly — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 14:48:32 GMT

Woodwind Choir is open to all woodwind players (flute, oboe, clarinet & saxophone) with prior playing experience. Under the direction of Dave Sievert, the ensemble rehearses Thursdays from 6:45-8:00 p.m., and plays for worship once a month. Woodwind quintet (flute, C clarinet, Bb clarinet, horn & contra Eb clarinet) is comprised of members of woodwind choir. Under the direction of Charlene Hecht, this ensemble rehearses Thursday nights as needed. Brass Choir involves young students through adults playing trumpets, horns trombones, baritones & tubas. The ensemble performs standard brass literature, hymns and sacred brass music. Under the direction of Dave Sievert, this group rehearses Thursdays from 8:15-9:30 p.m. Brass quintet is composed of five members of Brass Choir (2 trumpets, horn, trombone & tuba) for special service playing under the direction of Dave Sievert. Alternate players and percussion are needed on occasion. Wind Ensemble is comprised of the Woodwind Choir, Brass Choir and percussionists for concerts & festival services. Under the direction of Dave Sievert, the group meets as needed Thursday nights to learn hymn arrangements and new and old sacred concert band music.

Male Choir

Sech, Kelly — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 14:36:10 GMT

Male Chorus welcomes men 18 and older to sing in the "Mannerchor" tradition for selected Sundays and schedules throughout the year. Under the direction of Scott Hyslop, this choir rehearses Tuesday evenings at 7:45 p.m.

Mixed Choir

Administrator Account — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:28:14 GMT

ST. LORENZ MIXED CHOIR HISTORY It has been told that one of the things the First 15 settlers brought along with them from Germany was a piano. How they got it to Frankenmuth might be a story in itself, but the Bavarians loved their music and they were not going to be without it in their Worship Services. Whether that piano led to the formation of any type of choral group such as a Mixed Choir is not known. On page 40 of the 75th Anniversary History of St. Lorenz is a short note that Lehrer Paul Umbach led a ladies duet in the church services and later increased that to a mixed quartet. He first taught here in 1913 and hence laid the foundation for what was to follow. Teacher G. Stephani, who began teaching in the St. Lorenz Southeastern District in 1919, organized the “first Mixed Choir” soon after that. In 1927 a very talented musician, Walter Hahn, arrived in Frankenmuth and probably organized the first congregation-wide Mixed Choir, as we know it. His tenure lasted until 1950, and then came a drought of six years as far as the Mixed Choir is concerned. Reorganized in 1956, the St. Lorenz Mixed Choir has been blessed with a string of excellent directors, starting with Rudy Schmidt. After his untimely passing in 1968, Erich von Behren took up the baton and had the longest service of directing the choir, 25 years, before retiring in 1993. Jonathan Mueller then became the director of the Mixed Choir and helped celebrate St. Lorenz’s 150th Anniversary. The choir is now directed by Scott Hyslop, who arrived in 2000. The unifying factor throughout the Choir’s years of service has been to glorify the Triune God and to nurture the members through the music of the Church!

St. Lorenz Music Ministry

Sech, Kelly — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 14:14:32 GMT

At the dedication of the first church properly called Lutheran, at Torgau Castle, Martin Luther said the following: Nothing should ever happen here except that our dear Lord speaks to us through his holy Word and we respond in prayer and praise. It is the aim of the music ministry at St. Lorenz to enable singers and instrumentalist for the holy task of leading God’s people in prayer and praise through the gift of music, as we respond to what our God has done for us through his son, Jesus Christ.

Treble Choir

Sech, Kelly — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 14:29:40 GMT

The Treble Choir of St. Lorenz Lutheran Church is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2007. Founded in 1937 by Teacher Walter Hahn, the choir had sixteen members. The choir has sung praises to God in worship services continually since then, with membership ranging from thirty to fifty singers. The current choir of 37 members is under the direction of Harriet Warnick and Karen Volz. The Treble Choir members welcome all women, 8th grade and up, to experience with us the joy of singing for the Lord.