Music & Choir
Music is a central part of our worship experience at Norwich Congregational Church. Historically we have had an active and vital choral music program that involves singers both young and old. We offer a traditional service that utilizes organ, piano, hymn singing, and choral repertoire from the masters as well as traditional folk arrangements, world music, southern gospel, and contemporary styles.
Instrumentalists among the congregation often lend their talents on a Sunday morning and we’ve been blessed to add guitar, flute, clarinet, trumpet, violin, and cello to our offerings in the past. On occasion we will sponsor guest performers from the talented pool of professional musicians in our area.
Our Senior Choir meets for weekly rehearsals on Thursday evenings from 7:30 pm–9:00 pm. Practice is focused on featured choral selections in the Sunday worship service (usually an Anthem and an Offertory) as well as sung responses and hymns. The Senior Choir leads the congregation on all but one Sunday of every month September through June with a break for the summer. Participation in this ensemble does not require an audition.
Our Youth Choir is currently offered for kids in grades 4–12. Weekly rehearsals are held on Sundays from 11:30pm–12:45pm. The Youth Choir has traditionally sung in the worship service on the second Sunday of the month from September through June. Favorite projects include an annual Advent Musical presented in the worship service on the second Sunday in December as well as participation in local Youth Choir Festivals. Since 2006 singers from our Youth Choir program have participated in ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) Honor Choirs both at the regional and national level. Youth Choir is open to any interested singer, no audition required.
Like many churches, Covid-19 has changed the way we have been able to run our worship services and, in particular, our choral music program. Currently we are back to “in-person” worship services but our choir program is still running in a modified form. Soloists, duets, trios, and quartets have taken turns leading worship until we can safely return to a more regular full choir format.