Music at Central

Interested in our music ensembles? We invite you to join us!

CENTRAL CHOIR

Rehearses Wednesdays at 7:15 pm — Begins September 4, 2024
An SATB adult choir that sings in worship nearly every week, September – May. While reading music isn’t required, this choir moves quickly, learns a lot of repertoire, and throughout the year sings some challenging music, often highlighting the work of local composers! We also care for each other and laugh often. Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 7:15.

Bell Ensemble

Rehearses Wednesdays at 6:00 pm — Begins September 11, 2024
This is an ensemble for adults and high school youth with music-reading experience. This group will experiment with sounds and timbres and play interesting bell repertoire. Come and experiment with us, Wednesdays at 6:00 pm.

Chamber Ensemble

Rehearses Sundays after worship on an occasionally basis.
Open to adults and youth (grade 8 and up) who play traditional band/orchestra instruments for at least three years. We rehearse occasionally after worship for about 30 minutes and play in worship every-other-month or so.

Contact Jennifer Anderson, Director of Music and Youth Ministry, if you would like to become a part of one of these ensembles.

Get Involved in Many Ways!

Bell Ensemble

This is an ensemble for adults and high school youth with music-reading experience. This group will experiment with sounds and timbres and play interesting bell repertoire. Come and experiment with us, Wednesdays at 6:00 pm.

The Central Choir
An SATB adult choir that sings in worship nearly every week, September – May. While reading music isn’t required, this choir moves quickly, learns a lot of repertoire, and throughout the year sings some challenging music, often highlighting the work of local composers! We also care for each other and laugh often. Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 7:15.

Sticks & Steel Percussion Ensembles
Our percussion ensembles for grades 3 – 5 (Sticks and Steel 1) and grades 6 – 12 (Sticks and Steel II), with an emphasis on discovering the unique sounds of hand chimes, bells, marimba, hand drums, and other percussion.

Children and Youth in Worship

Young people are an integral part of worship, and finding meaningful ways for them to participate is important to us. We provide opportunities for young people to share their gifts through singing and playing instruments both as soloists and within ensembles.

Central Chamber Ensemble
Open to adults and youth (grade 8 and up) who play traditional band/orchestra instruments for at least three years. We rehearse occasionally after worship for about 30 minutes and play in worship every-other-month or so.

Guest Musicians
Central offers a diverse music program during worship Sundays and frequently welcomes guest musicians and singers to be a part.

VocalPoint
VocalPoint has raised money for area non-profit organizations through benefit concerts. Over 12 seasons VocalPoint raised more than $400,000!

Cabaret

Each year, Central creates a fun, semi-staged musical production featuring our children, choir, and chamber “pit” orchestra! To do this, we need singers and stage help. For more information, visit the Cabaret page.

Justice Choir

Share songs from the Justice Choir Songbook in our annual Justice Choir Sunday to encourage and engage others for social and environmental change. Our Director of Music Ministry, Jennifer Anderson, created a scripture reference for the Justice Choir Songs that you can download.

2024 - 2025 Artists-in-Residence

Award-winning transgender Mexican-American composer Mari Esabel Valverde has been commissioned by the American Choral Directors Association, Boston Choral Ensemble, Cantus, the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses, Los Angeles Master Chorale, One Voice Mixed Chorus, Portland’s Resonance Ensemble, Seattle Men’s and Women’s Choruses, the Texas Music Educators Association, and the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club. A native of North Texas, she holds degrees from St. Olaf College, the European American Musical Alliance in Paris, France, and San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She is a member of ASCAP and the American Choral Directors Association.

Melanie Ohnstad has been a church musician since her graduation from St. Olaf College. She led the music ministries of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Wausau, WI, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Phoenix, AZ, and Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis. During her Arizona years she earned a Master of Music degree at Arizona State University studying organ with David N. Johnson. She played multiple concerts with the Phoenix Symphony birthing a lifelong love of collaborative music making. When Melanie moved back to the Midwest she enjoyed over a decade as an assistant organist to Howard Don Small at St. Mark’s Cathedral, Minneapolis, and participated frequently in the nationally acclaimed St. Mark’s Music Series.
Melanie advanced her organ playing through a DMA with Dean Billmeyer at the University of Minnesota and is ever grateful for a sabbatical spent taking lessons with Rachel Laurin in Ottawa. Melanie has accompanied Minnesota choirs on three separate European tours and has made multiple recordings with Twin Cities choral ensembles. She has served as dean of the TCAGO chapter and is currently on its board.
Melanie was named Minister of Music and the Arts Emerita during her retirement celebrations at Westminster where her tenure included the installation of a Dobson organ, growth of the church’s musical ensembles and community partnerships, and the introduction of new worship styles and global repertoire. Melanie is now freelancing as an organist, expanding her culinary explorations, and enjoying more time in hiking boots and cross country skis. She and her husband travel frequently and are delighted by more regular visits with kids and grands in CA and CO.

ARS NOVA BRASS QUINTET