More on Music and Worship Arts Ministry?
Contact Stephen Kalnoske, Director of Music and Worship Arts Ministry by email stephen.kalnoske@damascusumc.org .

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Ensembles

Ensembles rehearse during the school year and share in worship and in special events as indicated. Worship Arts Ensembles include:

Children: Cherubs | Choristers | Colorful Hands of Jesus (Puppets)
Youth: Charles Wesley Singers | Youth Puppets | Youth Praise Band
Adults: Chancel Choir |
For All: Oratorio Choir/Concert Choir | Drama Productions

FOR CHILDREN

Cherubs (Age 4 to 2nd grade) |
Cherub Choir meets on Wednesdays during the school year, to experience music, singing, movement, and games that foster musical and spiritual growth. The Cherubs share in worship several times during the year!

Choristers (2nd to 6th grades) | Wednesdays at 5:30pm in the Music Suite
The Choristers is a treble choir for girls and boys that focuses on sacred music, music skill building, vocal technique, worship tradition, and faith building. The ensemble leads in worship several times during the year including the annual Palm Sunday procession. They also share musicals during the year, giving members an opportunity to experience a fully staged children's drama production. Participation is open to all, and children may participate by semester or by special event.

FOR YOUTH

Charles Wesley Singers (6th - 12th grades and beyond)
Damascus UMC's youth choir, the Charles Wesley Singers, has a 30+ year history of singing weekly at the 9 am worship service, sharing at the 8 pm service on Christmas Eve, and touring each summer. The ensemble is a cornerstone of youth ministry at DUMC, and accompanist Steve Kalnoske also shares in leadership. Singers are invited to join at any time during the year.

FOR ADULTS

Chancel Choir Wednesdays at 7:30pm in the Music Suite
The Chancel Choir sings weekly for the 9 am service. Music ranges from contemporary to ancient, and many genres are learned and shared in worship. Special programming is scheduled each year for the Chancel Choir, sometimes as part of a worship service and sometimes in a concert setting. Click here for upcoming concert events. Recent major works shared include Rutter and Durufle Requiem, Handel's Messiah, the Vivaldi Gloria, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Rutter's Requiem, and Bach cantatas.

FOR ALL AGES

Oratorio/Concert Choir Wednesdays
Singers from the community and church gather several times a year to prepare and share special performances. Recent performances include the 29th anniversary of the Living Christmas Tree in December 2016 and 2018, a collaboration for All Saints Day concert with Calvary UMC in Frederick, a concert of Vaughan Williams music, Britten's Ceremony of Carols, Durufle's Requiem, Vierne's Mass in C# Minor, Vivaldi's Gloria, and Handel's Messiah.

Drama Productions
Damascus UMC shared Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in August 2018. In recent years, Damascus UMC has put on several drama other productions including Godspell, madrigal dinners, 1940s Radio Christmas Carol, and Menotti's The Telephone.

Academy of St. Cecilia Youth Orchestra
The Academy of Saint Cecilia Youth Orchestra (ASCYO) is a non-profit organization created in 2001 as an outreach ministry of Damascus United Methodist Church to youth and their families in the greater Washington, DC area.

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