Listen to the FBC Sanctuary Choir
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Music is a gift from the Lord. Humans are created in the image of God, and therefore, He made us creative. It is only fitting that we craft the best music that we can to give praise to God in worship, as well as to tell His story. Though people today sometimes have a misguided view that “worship” is relegated to only the music portion of the service, it is true that music is important in God’s worship.
The Music Ministry at First Baptist Knoxville seeks to provide musical experiences and worship training to people of all ages. Our graded choir program begins with preschoolers who have turned 3 years old. It continues by offering musical training and worship opportunities to even the oldest of senior adults.
God told us through the Scriptures to “Speak to one another with Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:19-20 NIV) It is our goal to put that Scripture into practice through a variety of music organizations, as well as styles of music. Consider how you might become involved in this vital ministry of our church.
Music Ministry Staff
Brian Daniel, Organist
Debby Daniel, Pianist
Kim Pieratt, Music Ministry Assistant
Music Organizations
Sanctuary Choir
The Sanctuary Choir is the flagship of our music ministry here. The choir provides worship leadership for the 11:00 a.m. service each Sunday. Membership is open to college students and up. We sing a variety of literature in many styles. Rehearsals for this choir are on Wednesday evenings in the music suite from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Childcare is available for rehearsals. The choir presents at least two major programs a year.
Praise Band
The Praise Band leads the musical portion of our worship in the 8:42 a.m. service on Sunday mornings. The primary style of music sung and played by this group is largely contemporary. If interested in this ministry, please contact Mark Ennis in the music office to schedule an interview. Membership is open but limited to the need. The praise band rehearses primarily on Sunday evenings from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Chapel Choir
The Chapel Choir is our youth choir for grades 6 – 12. The youth choir rehearses on Sunday afternoons from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. The choir provides worship leadership in our morning services about once a month and they typically will sing for two major programs a year. Every other year the choir will go on a tour in the continental U.S.
Sanctuary Handbells
Terri King, Director
Our church is blessed to have a 5-octave set of Schulmerick Handbells. Our handbell choir meets during the academic school year beginning in late August and going through May each year. Their rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings from 5:45 – 6:45 p.m. Membership is open to all from high school through adults. The handbell choir regularly rings as a part of our morning worship services, as well as for other special services, as needed.
Ladies Ensemble
Margaret Cox, Director
The ladies of this group rehearse on an “as needed” basis. The women contribute about two to three times each fall and spring to our worship services, singing songs that usually reflect the theme of the day in worship. If interested in this group, please contact Margaret Cox.
Golden Notes Choir
Steve Foster, Assistant Director
Our senior adults have a wonderful opportunity to get together each week during the academic year to sing and rejoice together, singing songs they love. The choir has taken a real launch into ministry, in that they regularly visit area nursing homes and assisted living centers to offer programs of music and inspiration. Their choir is a real blessing to all who have a chance to hear them. Rehearsals for the Golden Notes take place in Adult 6 Sunday School room each Thursday morning from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
GRADED CHOIRS
(All graded choirs rehearse on Wednesday evenings from 5:40 – 6:25 p.m.)
Singing Cherubs
Judy Russell, Director
Our Singing Cherubs are children who have turned 3 years old by September 30 of that year. Our three-year-olds begin early learning how to match pitches, play instruments on a steady beat, and how to stand and sing. Performance is not the goal. Rather, teaching about God through music and how each child can participate in music with their whole self is the main thing taught. The Singing Cherubs sing once a year at the end of the choir year each May.
Preschool 4’s and Kindergarten 5’s Choir
Elizabeth Pemberton, Director
Being a 4 or 5 year old is a fun age for music training. Little minds are active and inquiring and soak up so much in teaching about music and how to sing. Our children have experiences with small Kristal Bells and numerous other instruments as they sing to help spark their interest and love of music.
Music Makers (grades 1-2)
Karisa Booker, Director
Our music makers are children in grades 1 and 2. The Music Makers continue their learning about how to use their voices to give praise to the Lord. The Music Makers sing more often in the worship services. In addition to singing regularly in worship, they sing for two programs per year.
Young Musicians (grades 3-5)
Ann Buchanan, Director
Our Young Musicians pick up where the experience of Music Makers ended. They are taught more and more about how to lead in worship and how to look and sing like a choir. More difficult music concepts are introduced and more profound texts are able to be sung because of the developing minds of the children. The Young Musicians sing often in the morning services and present a yearly musical, usually in the months of February or March.
