LJPC Chancel Choir
Rehearsals: Thursdays, 7pm, Slusser Hall.
The Chancel Choir leads worship music in the 9AM Sunday service and presents Christmas and Spring Concerts. All are welcome to come and worship through music with us.
Dr. Keith Pedersen, Director. (858) 729-5545.
keithpedersen@pointloma.edu
Singing Saturday: April 5, 2025
8:30 New Singers
9:00-14:30 Spring Concert 2025 ~ Overview and Rehearsal
Contact Keith Pedersen, Director of Choral Music
keithpedersen@pointloma.edu or 858-335-3615
Join the Choir!
The Chancel Choir is a ministry of La Jolla Presbyterian Church. The choir leads the congregational singing and contributes special music to Sunday worship services. And twice each year the choir and guest musicians present classical and contemporary sacred music to the community through the LJPC Concert Series.
Singers include members of the LJPC congregation and community choristers who commit themselves to weekly rehearsals and participation in scheduled worship services and performances. Members come to the choir with a wide variety of singing experiences. And while there are no auditions or attendance requirements, each member is expected to participate in rehearsals and services on a regular basis and contribute to the best of their ability to the missions and success of the choir.
Currently the choir has 50 active members, with 35-40 members singing each Sunday and in our concerts. As members retire from active participation or move away from San Diego, the choir requires new members to continue its ministries, its own singing standards, and the music expected at La Jolla Presbyterian Church.
With this in mind, we look to the congregation of the church to sustain and grow the choir. We depend on both established and new church members to consider a calling to sing and be part of the music ministry of the church. While the choir will welcome and continue to include singers who are not members of the church, it is from within our church family where the future of the choir is formed.
Ways to Join
There are many “paths” you can take to become an active member of the Chancel Choir. A conversation with our Music Director will get you started on the path that’s best for you.
Jump Right In . . .
If you have sung in a choir or chorus previously, you might be ready to rehearse on Thursday and sing at service on Sunday. A conversation with our Music Director and a meeting with our Music Librarian before your first rehearsal is all we ask of you.
Need to Know More . . .
Whether you have sung in a choir or not, you might need to know more about our choir, the music we sing, and the details of participation. In this case, we invite you to join us on Thursdays for a few weeks, just sitting in on the rehearsal (and the great fellowship we share) or singing some or all we are working on. Then you can decide whether and when to join us as a member of the choir.
Not “Good Enough” . . .
Our members have a wide range of experiences with singing and being member of a choir or chorus. Let us help you evaluate whether you are “good enough” to fit into our choir. We can schedule one-on-one or group sessions to help you with everything from the singing basics to choral techniques. We are committed to overcoming the “I can’t sing” syndrome in our society!
Mentors for All . . .
Every new singer gets an experienced Chancel Choir member as a “mentor.” Every new singer will have different needs as they get underway with our choir, so our Music Director will select a mentor for you with that in mind.
Too Big of a Commitment . . .
You might not have the time with other commitments to be a full-time member of the choir. With some planning, it’s possible for you to participate at certain times of the year and not others, for example, for one or both of our concerts, one or more church festivals, or the Fall season but not in the Spring. Most important to the success of each singer and the choir is that you participate regularly in rehearsals and services during the periods that you commit to sing.
When To Join
You can join the choir most any time . . . but there are certain times during the year that might work best for you and for the choir
Beginning of a New Season . . .
August . . . is the start of the choir year, and this season ends with Christmas Eve services.
January . . . picks up the choir schedule, beginning lots of new music for Lent and Easter. This season ends in June.
Concert Rehearsals
October . . . Rehearsals for the mid-December Christmas concert begin with a Singing Saturday in October.
April . . . Rehearsals for the Spring Concert in June begins with a Singing Saturday in April
Church Festival Rehearsals
December . . . we begin rehearsing the music for Christmas Eve services.
March . . . beginning of rehearsals for Holy Week and Easter services
Joining the Choir begins with checking us out . . . talking with choir members, listening and watching us live or on the church’s YouTube channel, having a conversation with our Music Director, singing with us in a special “Come Sing” session or at Thursday rehearsal, and then giving choir membership a try.
A good start is with a call (858-335-3615) or note (keithpedersen@pointloma.edu) to our Music Director, Keith Pedersen.
Whatever your path to our choir, we look forward to sharing with you our joy of singing and music ministry at La Jolla Presbyterian Church
Pick Your Date
Here’s the “Join the Choir” schedule of events for the next year . . .
April 5 . . . Singing Saturday and the beginning of rehearsals for our June 15 concert
August 14 . . . First rehearsal of the new choir year, with first worship service on August 17
September . . . “Come Sing” session for congregation and community members
October . . . Singing Saturday, beginning of rehearsals for our December ? Christmas Concert
November . . . rehearsals begin for Christmas Eve
January . . . First rehearsal of the Spring choir season
February . . . “Come Sing” session for congregation and community members
March . . . rehearsals begin for Holy Week and Easter
April . . . Singing Saturday, beginning of rehearsals for our Spring Concert
Choir Tour
Eastern Canada
Friday, June 20 – Monday, June 30, 2025
Join the combined choirs of La Jolla and Solana Beach Presbyterian Churches on a musical ministry tour of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec.
Sing in historic churches and cathedrals. Visit the founding places of the Presbyterian faith in North America. Explore the seaside and St Lawrence River provinces of Canada. A few spots are still available.
Contact Candace Magee for more information or REGISTER HERE