The Cherub Choir

The youngest Sunday school students begin each class with piano music and song, while older students may choose to join the Junior Choir. On special Sundays, the children lift their voices in song at the 10:30 service

Alleluia Singers

The AlleluiA SingerS comprise 2nd - 8th grade children who practice most Sundays from 8:45 am to 9:20 am in the Children's Chapel.

They usually plan on singing at a service monthly & on special occasions.

E-Mail the Director for information on how to enroll.

The Adult Choir

The adult choir is a volunteer group made up of 25-30 members who love to sing and express their love of God and neighbor through music. It is not a choir by audition, but a choir comprised of parishioners and non-parishioners alike who, by desire, offer their voices in worship. There are also professional soloist/section leaders for each section.

The choir practices in the Fairfax room (beneath the sanctuary) every Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm and sings weekly for the 10:30 am service as well as for other services such as Christmas Eve, Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, Ascension, and others as scheduled.

Musicians in the choir are diligent in preparation and performance in order to provide a high standard of worship in the parish. In this endeavor, the choir strives to bring the integration of worship and music to the liturgical experience at Christ Church. A variety of traditions and styles in organ and choral music is used for the services. Musical styles include early music, plainsong, music from the renaissance, baroque and classical eras, Victorian times, the 20th century and even more contemporary. New music is frequently commissioned for the Christ Church choir. Hymns and service music are most frequently taken from The Hymnal 1982, Lift Every Voice and Sing II, Wonder, Love and Praise, Voices, and Gather Comprehensive.

We recognize that many in our congregation have transferred from other denominations. When possible, the musical traditions of other denominations are incorporated into our hymnody and made part of the spiritual singing life of our congregation.

Many members of the choir are involved in other aspects of the church. They host coffee hours, volunteer for mission projects, visit shut-ins, and serve on the Vestry. Adult choir members typically fully participate in the parish life of the Christ Church community and the Winchester community at large.

The choir is a social group that loves “getting together.” Wine and cheese, swimming, fried chicken, health food, fabulous desserts, stimulating conversation. . . . you name it – it will be present at a choir party. The choir cares for one another. They pray for each other. They laugh with each other. Some study the Bible together. Good friendships are made and some romances too. Young meet old and persons from all walks of life intersect in the choir. It is a real family within the larger church family.

Anyone interested in joining any of the choirs should contact the church office or the directors directly. For the adult choir, please contact Jim Kriewald. He can be reached at the following:

Direct Voice: (540) 665-3495
Direct Fax: (540) 678-4449
Cell: (540) 539-0000
E-mail: jkriewal@su.edu

Jim resides at 218 Stanley Drive, Winchester, Virginia, 22602, with his wife, The Reverend Diedra Kriewald, PhD, (United Methodist Church) and their loveable Bloodhound, Champion Hombrew Legacy Thomas the Rhymer.

Some of our current choir members speak about their experiences in the choir:

I enjoy singing in the choir because it gives me an opportunity to praise and glorify God with a close knit group of friends. It is a very relaxed atmosphere where we sing together and pray together. We support one another in the community of Christ Church. It is a great place where I can learn new music and sing old favorites. I really enjoy my time with the Adult Choir at Christ Church …Cathie Waldie

For me, singing in the choir elevates my worship experience several notches. The music is challenging – rarely do we get to take “the easy way out” – but it’s so beautiful and edifying you want to do the extra work to master it. Much of the music is in “The Great Anglican Tradition,” and it’s just thrilling. We are blessed with a dedicated and inspiring leader and an appreciative congregation. I ALWAYS look forward to Sunday…Alix Cooper

The Christ Church choir performs challenging, historic, and inspirational music on a weekly basis, and you get the summer off. It's a great way to have a church family within the church family and to serve the church in a worshipful, nonpolitical way…Russ McKelway

I am a new member of Christ Church choir. From the very start, there was the warmest welcome and sense of belonging to the group. One can easily tell that these folks are serving Christ through a wonderful music ministry. Christ Church choir has embraced, as a group, a mission of love and service to the members of Christ Church and each other …S. Correll

Above all, we are a faithful community of people who love to praise God with our choral singing. We delight in each word we sing, and with each word of joy or sorrow we share with each other. Come and join us in the loft …Nancy Brown

It has always been through music that I most keenly sense the presence of God. Being a part of the music ministry at Christ Church takes my worship experience to a deeper level and satisfies many of my spiritual and musical needs. I love singing in the Christ Church adult choir--from the warm camaraderie and dedication of the choir members to the musical challenges that stretch me as a singer…Barbara Rupert

Anyone who joins this choir family will find loyal members who work earnestly to prepare music that will enhance the worship at Christ Church. It is a group that can't wait to have fun, knows how to work hard, and loves to sing! The senior choir is a church family. I have enjoyed being a member of this caring family for many years... Lucia Thomas

What I like about singing in the choir is that even though at times the music is challenging, what makes it fun is working through it.  Once the music is learned, it give me a gratifying feeling to know that I can sing the piece and that it becomes more familiar the next time it is sung. ... Pat S.

About Our Organ

During the 1980 renovations, a solid cherry-cased tracker organ, designed by Christopher Linde who is currently with the Johannes Klais Orgelbau of Bonn, Germany, was installed. The organ was built and initially assembled in the Moeller Organ Factory in Hagerstown, MD, before being installed and regulated in the newly renovated and enlarged balcony and choir loft. Mr. Linde was assisted in design and installation by Mr. Richard Howell, from England.

The two-manual mechanical action organ consists of 25 stops and 35 ranks. It is characterized by its well-regulated and easy-to-play action. It is mechanically excellent and extremely reliable. Its tonal concept avoids extremes. The instrument was designed to support, inspire and embellish the performance of the liturgy of the Episcopal Church, as well as to serve as a recital and instructional instrument to the community. The facade of the main case houses the Great division of the organ which is totally exposed. Behind it is the Swell division, which is enclosed. The Pedal pipes stand in separate cases on the left and right of the main case.