Hello Annual Conference Choir Singers! I look forward to working with you to enrich our worship in Grand Rapids. When I directed the conference choir in 2022, we ended up having to sing with masks on, so I’m looking forward to having another chance to sing together mask-free.
I am providing some rehearsal notes and links to recordings of our songs. Please spend a few minutes with them before conference so that we can make the best use of our limited rehearsal time.
Thank you for sharing your musical gifts with the church by participating in the choir. Encourage others to join us as we do our part to bless others in our worship gatherings. Feel free to contact me at juliaannrichard@gmail.com.
–Julia Richard, Adult Choir Director
Julia Richard is the choir director at Westminster Church of the Brethren and the artistic director of Carroll Singers, a community chorus in Carroll County, Maryland. She received her BA in Music Education from Bridgewater College, a Master of Music degree from James Madison University, and further music certification from Towson University. She became a National Board-Certified Teacher and recently retired from 34 years of public school music teaching. She is married to Tom Richard, pastor at Friendship Church of the Brethren. She has 3 grown children, two of whom are CoB pastors, and 6 grandchildren. She enjoys reading, travel, attending concerts and shows, and spending time with family.
Rehearsal Schedule
DeVos Place Convention Center, Steelcase Ballroom main stage
| Tuesday | 4:15 p.m.to 5:45 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. |
| Thursday | 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. |
| Friday | 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. |
Anthems
If you order the Choir Packet when you register for AC, these will be mailed to your home.
Child of God, by Mark A. Miller
Community of Faith, by Joseph Martin
Be in Our Gathering, by Sandra Ford
For Everyone Born, by Shirley Erena Murray and Brian Mann arranged by Trenney
Rehearsal Notes
After clicking a link below, click on the speaker icon to hear song
Thursday: Child of God
- Opening will be women the first time and men on the repeat- no solos
- Change in lyrics on page 4, measures 22-24*. This will require a slight adjustment in the rhythm in measure 22 so that the word “any” falls directly on beat 4 and the word “what” becomes an eight-note pickup to beat 4. Don’t worry if that is confusing- I’ll explain it better in person.
- *No matter what anyone says, opinions and judgments on you
- Note the description at the beginning of the song, “Slow gospel swing, with confidence and a growing sense of drive.”
Friday: Community of Faith
https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp?&type=audio&productID=10187479
- As written. Carry through the phrases as indicated in the score and as performed in the recording.
Saturday: Be in Our Gathering
- As written.
Sunday: For Everyone Born
(cello) https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp?&type=audio&productID=10606167
- Page 10 measure 46, only a few sopranos on the descant. If you consider yourself a second soprano, please sing the alto line through measure 48
- Page 16 measures 73-81, observe footnote, only a few sopranos and tenors on the decant with most joining the melody line in the alto and bass parts.