Music Ministry at IPC
Upcoming Music Programs / Concerts...
 
Senior High    •   SH Choir Trip   •   Handbells
"I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live." -Psalm 104:33
The Music Ministry provides musical leadership for corporate worship and develops the musical talents of people of all ages at IPC. We strive for excellence in our music in order to reflect the majesty and glory of the Lord. We welcome you to our site and hope these pages are helpful in answering any questions you may have about the music ministries of the church. Please contact the music office with any questions and we will be glad to assist you.
Music Ministry Staff
James A. Brown, Jr.
Director of Music & Worship
Pam Brown
Director of Children's Choirs
james.brown@indepres.org pam.brown@indepres.org
   
Jennifer P.K. Velázquez
Organist and Music Associate
Kathy Leggett
Administrative Assistant
jennifer@indepres.org musicoffice@indepres.org
The Adult Choir 
In addition to preparing weekly anthems and responses for Sunday Morning Worship, the Adult Choir of IPC presents an annual "Christmas Service of Lessons and Carols," which is broadcast on WKNO-FM, and a community-wide "Messiah Sing Along." An orchestra including members of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra joins the choir, soloists and organist in these performances each Christmas season. The Adult Choir also prepares music for annual spring and summer performances. Previous spring concerts have included Handel's Messiah, Mendelssohn's Elijah, John Michael Talbot's Light Eternal, Brahms' Requiem, and Haydn's Creation. In the summer, the Adult Choir has the opportunity to prepare music for lighter programs of folk hymns, spirituals, and occasional informal talent shows. Ligonier Ministries has partnered with the Adult Choir of IPC to release two recordings of our annual Service of Lessons and Carols. The first of these was recorded in 2001 and is entitled "A Christmas Legacy." In 2005 the Ligonier Production Staff traveled to Memphis to record the Adult and Senior High Choirs for a recording entitled "This Light So Fair," which was released in the Fall of 2006.  In 2009 the IPC Choir was invited to sing Messiah at the Cannon Center with the Memphis Symphony to benefit The Orphanos Foundation. The Adult Choir is directed by James A. Brown, who has served as the Director of Music and Worship at IPC since 1993 and is well-known in many PCA congregations. The Adult Choir rehearses each Wednesday evening from 7:30pm to 9:00pm and we welcome new members each week. If you are interested in joining us, please call (901)685-9707 or email the music office for more information.
 
Early Childhood Music Classes
These classes are for children who are at least 18-months old and their parents.  This six-week program features musical, spiritual, and creative activities designed specifically for children at this exciting age. Parents and children participate in weekly meetings consisting of 25 minutes of intense involvement.  The classes are held on Wednesday evenings in the fall and winter from 6:00pm to 6:25pm and classes are limited to 12 children. Pre-registration is necessary and is held at the beginning of each semester. Please direct any questions to Pam Brown.
Preschool and Kindergarten Choirs

Our Preschool and Kindergarten Choirs capitalize on the rapid manner in which young children can learn music when it is presented using the appropriate stimuli in a loving environment. Using carefully chosen songs, activities, and theory games directors and theory teachers lead these children through a graduated curriculum of music and worship skills. Please contact Pam Brown for more information.
Elementary Children's Choir
As directors, we have the unique honor of training children in a skill that they will use as Christians throughout eternity in heaven: worship through music. (Rev. 5:13-14) Elementary choir directors use well-crafted anthems, theory games, movement activities, and performance experience—all in a positive environment—to lead these young people toward greater musicianship and musical worship leadership. Elementary Choir Registration and Kick-Off Carnival are in the fall with rehearsals beginning Wednesdays in early September at 6:30-7:25. Questions may be directed to Pam Brown.  Each year our students memorize ten hymns. The hymns for this year (2010-2011) are: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, “Away in a Manger”, “As with Gladness Men of Old”, “Thou Dost Reign on High”, “Come, Thou Almighty King”, “For All the Saints”, “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”, “Man of Sorrows”, “This is My Father’s World”, “Were You There?” (Stanzas 1 and 5)
The Junior High Choir
The Junior High Choir is comprised of middle-school students (grades 6-8) from various schools and churches in the greater Memphis area. Members of this choir participate in weekly rehearsals that include a time of fellowship, lessons in music theory and sight singing, and training in choral singing and worship leadership. The choir is open to all middle-school students, regardless of previous musical experience, and we would love for you to join us. The choir meets each Wednesday evening from 5:30pm to 6:15pm in the Junior High Choir Room. This choir takes an annual weekend-long tour to lead worship in another church each spring. In addition to assisting in the leadership of Sunday morning worship at a sister PCA church, the choir typically spends a day enjoying a theme park or beach. Some of our previous destinations include: Gulf Shores, AL; Fort Worth, TX; Cincinnati, OH; Lexington, KY; Panama City, FL; St. Louis, MO; and Atlanta, GA. Paul Vest directs this choir with assistance from Pam and James Brown, Jennifer Velázquez, and the Music Ministry Intern Staff. The choir is also blessed to have a dedicated group of adult, college-aged, and high-school volunteers.
The Senior High Choir
The Senior High Choir of IPC is comprised of Sr. High students (grades 9-12) from various schools and churches in the greater Memphis area. Members of this choir participate in weekly rehearsals that include lessons and training in music theory, sight singing, choral technique, and worship leadership. The choir is open to all high school students, regardless of previous musical experience, and we would love for you to join us. The choir meets each Sunday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Senior High Choir Room. During the fall semester the Senior High Choir prepares a number of anthems for IPC's annual Service of Lessons and Carols as well as selections for the Graded Choir Christmas Program. In the spring the choir prepares for its annual Choir Tour each June. This trip is typically an eight-day tour of one region of the United States, during which the choir performs, leads worship, and shares spoken testimonies in many different churches. The Senior High Choir has also been blessed with the opportunity to travel to the United Kingdom in both 2001 and 2005. You can view a video of the Sr. High Choir singing in St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, Scotland by clicking the provided link. James Brown directs this choir with assistance from Pam Brown, Jennifer Velázquez, Paul Vest, and the Music Ministry Intern Staff. The choir is also blessed to have a devoted group of college-age and adult volunteers.
 
Senior High Ensemble
An auditioned group from the Senior High Choir, Sr. High Ensemble performs a choreographed fellowship program following the sacred concert on choir tours. Accompanied by drums, electric guitars, bass, and piano, these young people sing and dance to a variety of music including show tunes, pop, and music from the 60’s to present. Pam Brown directs this group.
Handbell Choirs
The IPC music ministry makes use of its three octave set of Schulmerich handbells for special musical events throughout the year.  Contact the handbell director, Jennifer Velázquez, if you would like to be involved in one of the following groups: - Introduction to Handbells (Thursdays at 9:30, beginning September 9, 2010/ led by Christy Watridge. Childcare provided.) - Adult Handbells - Jr. High Handbells - Children’s Handbells