Embedded Files
Vocal choir rehearsals are held at the church on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM,
followed by Handbell rehearsals at 7:30 PM.
Please contact Music Director, Chris Smith if you are interested!
We welcomed our new Music Director, Chris Smith, on August 4, 2024!
We welcomed our new Music Director, Chris Smith, on August 4, 2024!
About our Music Director:
Christopher Smith most recently held the position of Principal of both Our Lady of Mercy Academy (which he co-founded) and Saint Joseph Regional School in Keene. He also served as an English and Philosophy teacher at both schools. He currently teaches English and Business courses at River Valley Community College and Franklin Pierce University. Chris received his Master of Arts from Hofstra University on Long Island, NY, and his Bachelor’s from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.
Throughout his life, he has contributed his musical talents to several congregations, including Wesley United Methodist Church, in Mechanicsburg, PA, Bible Baptist Church in Shiremanstown, PA, and St. Bernard Church in Keene. He served as piano accompaniment for both the chorus and choir at Our Lady and St. Joseph’s and he has also offered piano lessons for over a decade to students in the Monadnock Region. From 2014-2023 he served as the music accompaniment for the Wednesday morning Mass at St. Bernard’s.
The vocal choir performed "10,000 Reasons" accompanied by Rev. Karluk on guitar
September 29, 2024
About Our Music Program:
The Brick Meetinghouse Singers and Ringers are under the direction of Music Director, Chris Smith.
From September to June, Vocal Choir rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. and at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings before worship. Handbell Choir rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings, immediately following vocal choir rehearsals.
The choirs always welcome more voices and hands. If you can't commit for the whole year, please feel free to join us for a few weeks during the Christmas season - we would love to make a joyful noise with you!
Summer Music:
Our Music Ministry hosts concerts, recitals, and special music during Sunday Services over the summer while choir is not in session. We are so thankful for the donors who make bringing in special music throughout the summer possible. If you would like to donate to the way of the Music Ministry, to ensure that we can continue to provide music at the highest quality, you can donate here and write in the message/memo "Music."
If you would like to hold a recital or a concert at the church, we'd love to have you! Please be in touch with our Music Director, Chris Smith, at csmith@swanzeyucc.org!
"[These] performances are great. Music in our community is a must! It is also a great way to give young performers a chance to play for an audience."
"[These] performances are great. Music in our community is a must! It is also a great way to give young performers a chance to play for an audience."
Our Sixth Annual Spring Benefit Concert June 9, 2024
Our Fifth Annual Spring Benefit Concert June 11, 2023
Our Fifth Annual Holiday Benefit Concert December 18, 2022
Our Fourth Annual Spring Benefit Concert June 12, 2022
Our Third Annual Holiday Benefit Concert December 22, 2019
About Our Annual Benefit Concerts:
The singers and ringers of the First Congregational Church of Swanzey perform two benefit concerts a year. We have additional singers, and instrumentalists that perform with us as well that range from all different ages and styles of music. Our two concerts comprise of a Holiday Benefit Concert performed in December and a Spring Benefit Concert in June. All of the musicians are volunteer, and musicians range from middle school to collegiate levels, which allows for them to take part in a great collaborative performing experience here at the church. Nurturing the growth of young musicians is something we continue to take pride in!
Our concerts are by donation, and all proceeds go directly towards the music program in the form of new music, refurbishment of our handbells, robe & folder repairs, piano tunings, organ maintenance, summer musicians, and other related costs that we encounter throughout the year. Every donation is crucial to keeping our music program at its highest level.
Questions about, or want to participate in a concert? Email our Director: csmith@swanzeyucc.org
Testimonials of Our Music Program:
"I love to sing as most people do. When I sing in church, I'm singing to God. It fills my soul with love, happiness and joy that I can share. Music to me in any form, is a gift from God that lifts our spirit and shows a beauty that only God can create." ~ Sandy Bryant
"Singing and music has been a part of my entire. It has been hard not to sing during COVID. The choir experience is the ultimate team experience that I hope the congregation enjoys. We have to listen to one another and try to make the music as of one." ~ Betty Tatro
"Singing at the First Congregational Church of Swanzey has given me a feeling of joy and peace. I have met new people by singing and performing in a spiritual setting. I am thankful for this opportunity that the church has given me." ~ Gail Parsons
"Being in the choir is a great joy. I am able to learn more about singing, and improve my ability to sing. It adds more joy to sing for God, as well as everyone else." ~ Jen Thompson
Donate to the Music Program:
Feeling generous and would like to give more than just a donation? You can help the music program by sponsoring an item, or multiple items!
We are in need of several items, anywhere from low-cost to high cost. Low-cost items consist of items such as music folders and pencils, and high-cost items include sponsoring musicians or equipment needed by the music program in the given year. Specific items we need assistance with, can be found on the right hand side.
If you plan to sponsor an item for us here at the church, please indicate which item you would like to sponsor in the message/memo field when you make your contribution. We appreciate all donations, large or small - without a doubt your contributions, no matter the monetary size, help our program. For that, we thank you for helping our program grow!
Put Your Business In Our Paperback Program:
If you are a business, that has received or filled out paperwork regarding advertisements in the Annual Holiday/Spring Benefit Concerts, please continue to the PayPal donation button on our Donate Page, and be sure to include in the message/memo that your payment is for the advertisement. If you did not recieve our paperwork, but would like to sign up to put your ad in our program, click here. Thank you for your generous contribution, and we hope to see you at this years concerts!
Ticonderoga Pencils
$15.00
Labels for Choral Library Boxes
$2.50/sheet
Choir Folders (20)
$12.00/folder
Sponsor a Musician
$50.00
Sheet Music Box (10)
$8.00/box
Dampp Chaser (Piano Life Saver) for Upright Piano (1)
$450.00
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