music ministries
Make a joyful noise!
Musical Opportunities for Adults, Youth, & Children
For questions and more information, please contact Lynn Leitzen, Director of Children's Music Ministry & Worship Coordinator, at lynn.leitzen@peopleofgrace.org.
Adult Music Ministry
Share your love of music in one of our music ensembles at Grace! We have many opportunities to offer praise and worship through music for all ability levels. Please see the list of vocal and bell choirs below for details. We have selected spirited music; we need you to bring it to life! We welcome you to join us in song! Contact Lynn Leitzen to get connected with one or more of these wonderful ensembles.
Grace Chancel Choir
Grace's largest choir, singing classics, hymn settings, Gospel, and more. Sing at the 10:30AM worship service and for special concerts and holy days. We welcome capable new members. If you’re someone who reads music, loves to sing, enjoys dramatic storytelling, and is drawn to using your gifts to enhance the worship experience for others, contact Dr. Peter Jarjisian via email.
Rehearses Thursdays at 7:00PM to 8:30PM.
Directed by Dr. Peter Jarjisian.
Grace Praise Team
Vocalists and instrumentalists lead 9:00 a.m. worship with current praise and worship music, enhanced by microphones and visual projection, and plays at special events, concerts, and services. The team is always open to new members with the talents and passion for contemporary worship. Rehearsals are Tuesdays (September through May) at 7:30PM to 9:00PM for the upcoming 9:00AM Gathering Sunday worship in the Activity Center. The team rotates vocalists and band members choose their Sundays. We’d love to have you join us!
Rehearses Tuesdays at 7:30PM to 9:00PM.
Directed by Lynn Leitzen.
Grace Bell Ensemble
Play on the first Sunday of the month at the 8:00AM and 10:30AM worship service and other services, concerts, and events.
Rehearses Wednesdays at 7:00PM to 8:30PM.
Directed by Debbie John.
New Life Singers
New Life Singers choir perform on the third Sunday of the month under the leadership of Jon Warfel. All are welcome and no auditions needed!
Rehearses Wednesdays at 6:30PM to 8:00PM prior to 3rd Sunday worship.
Directed by Jon Warfel.
Simply Ring
Would you like to learn how to play handbells? Contact Debbie John.
Special Music
The 8:00AM traditional worship service invites soloists or ensembles for vocal and/or instrumentals to lead worship as available. Please contact Lynn Leitzen for more information.
Youth Music Ministry
Grace's Youth Music Ministry is a wonderful way for youth to grow relationships, share their talents, and express their faith. In addition to regularly leading worship, youth also present one musical per calendar year. Please contact Director of Children's Music Ministry Lynn Leitzen for more information.
Junior Singers
This group is for 4th to 7th graders and sings on average once a month and during Advent and for Mother’s Day musicals.
Rehearses Wednesdays at 5:00PM to 6:00PM.
Directed by Lynn Leitzen.
Youth Choir
This group is for 8th to 12th graders and sings in worship about every 4 to 6 weeks.
Rehearses Thursdays at 6:00PM to 7:00PM.
Directed by Shelly Drescher.
Joyful Ringers
This groups is for 4th to 12th grade youth and rings on average once a month and during Advent and for Mother’s Day musicals.
Rehearses Wednesdays at 4:00PM to 5:00PM.
Directed by Debbie John.
RingTones
This group is for experienced 8th to 12th grade ringers.
Rehearses Sundays at 7:30PM to 8:30PM.
Directed by Debbie John.
Instrumentalists
Any age “practice-ready” instrumentalists interested in accompanying or leading worship, please contact Lynn Leitzen.
Children's Music Ministry
The choir season is September through mid-May, but we welcome seasonal attendees as well. Contact Lynn Leitzen, Director of Children's Music Ministry, for more information.
Treble Tikes Pre-K
Pre-K (3-5 years old)
Rehearsals Thursdays at 1:00PM to 2:00PM.
Directed by Lynn Leitzen.
Cherub Choir
Grades K - 3
Rehearses Wednesdays at 5:00PM to 6:00PM.
Directed by Sue Riedinger.
Junior Singers
Grades 4-7
Rehearses Wednesdays at 5:00PM to 6:00PM.
Directed by Lynn Leitzen.
Joyful Ringers Handbell Choir
Grades 4-12
Rehearses Wednesdays at 4:00PM to 5:00PM.
Directed by Debbie John.
RingTones
Grades 8-12 experienced handbell ensemble ringers
Rehearses Tuesdays at 6:30PM to 7:30PM.
Directed by Debbie John.
Youth Choir
Grades 8-12
Rehearses Thursdays at 6:00PM to 7:00PM.
Directed by Shelly Drescher.
Instrumentalists
Any age “practice-ready” instrumentalists interested in accompanying or leading worship, please contact Lynn Leitzen.
You’re Invited
Upcoming Concerts at Grace
20th Anniversary Organ Concert
Sunday, November 9 at 4:00PM
She’s Turning 20… and You’re Invited to the Celebration!
Our beloved Reuter pipe organ — Opus 2222 (3 manuals, 41 glorious ranks) — is hitting a major milestone: 20 years of music, majesty, and ministry! Join us for a special 20th Anniversary Organ Concert on Sunday, November 9 at 4:00PM. In addition to our own gifted principal organist, José Rosado, we are thrilled to welcome back concert organist, Stephen Buzard, as our featured guest. Stephen currently serves as the Director of Music at historic St. James Cathedral in downtown Chicago. The concert will also feature the Chancel Choir, accompanied by Stephen Buzard and Jon Warfel, as well as several glorious congregational hymns, for a joyful and powerful 60-minute musical celebration.
Come early! From 3:15PM to 3:45PM, enjoy a pre-concert talk with Dean Christian, that takes you behind the scenes into the story of this incredible instrument — how it came to be, how it sings, and why it still inspires. Dean Christian, organ tuner and overseer of our Reuter since its inception, will be joined by several members of the original organ committee, as well as José.
And be sure to stay after! The Organ Celebration Committee will serve up light refreshments in the Gathering Space immediately following the concert. Curious about the original celebration?
Curious about the original celebration? Click here to view the program from our Consecration Concert on November 13, 2005.
About Stephen Buzard
Stephen Buzard is one of the leading organists of his generation, serving as Director of Music at historic St. James Cathedral in downtown Chicago. His playing is both thoughtful and heartfelt, dazzling audiences with his technique and engaging programming.
Stephen Buzard grew up in a household filled with organ music. His father is the president and founder of Buzard Pipe Organ Builders, and his mother is an Episcopal organist and choirmaster. Buzard attended Westminster Choir College where he studied organ performance with virtuoso Ken Cowan. During this time, Buzard recorded his first solo album "In light or darkness" and won the prestigious Arthur Poister Competition.
After graduation, Buzard became senior organ scholar at Wells Cathedral in the UK where he accompanied for daily choral services and assisted in the training of the boy and girl choristers. He returned to the United States to study with Thomas Murray at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music.
In 2013, Buzard became Assistant Organist at Saint Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue in New York City. Following the tragic death of Director of Music John Scott, Buzard became Acting Organist and Director of Music, leading the church's world-renowned choir of men and boys.
In 2016, Buzard was called to St. James Cathedral in Chicago, following in the footsteps of Dudley Buck, Clarence Dickinson, and Leo Sowerby. In addition to maintaining the church's excellent musical heritage, he founded a chorister program for boys and girls and an organ scholarship to train the next generation of church musicians. His career was highlighted in the AGO monograph series "The Making of an Organ Virtuoso."
Mr. Buzard is under exclusive management of Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc.
About José Rosado
José was born and raised in Chicago, and is of mixed Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage. His love for classical music, the piano and the organ, was evident at a young age. At age 11, he and his mother attended Easter mass with some members of the Roman Catholic side of the family. José knew well that this would be a rare opportunity to finally see and hear a pipe organ in person. From that moment on, he knew what he had been called to do. After mass, as they exited the church, he said to his mother, "Yo voy a tocar uno de esos cuando yo sea grande." / "I'm going to play one of those when I grow up."
José began private piano studies at age 13 and soon discovered a knack for playing by ear. His quest for knowledge was further aided by general music classes in high school. At age 16, he met Dr. Louis Playford, who was impressed by the knowledge that José had attained in such a short period of time and was so moved by his enthusiasm and interest in the organ, that he took it upon himself to teach and mentor him in organ technique and hymn playing for about five years.
José has played countless services, weddings, funerals, and recitals in many churches spanning a total of nine denominations. This has taken him far and wide across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. José's love for sacred and liturgical music is deeply rooted in the Lutheran tradition of robust congregational singing and the great Anglican / Episcopal tradition of choral music and chant. This has greatly influenced his approach to solo organ playing and accompanying.
José currently works full time in the aerospace industry. Aside from his passion for sacred music, he enjoys cooking, learning about cuisines from around the world, architecture, science, history, languages and cultures.
NaperVoice Fall Concert
Gather in Gratitude 4: A Fest of Season on Sunday, November 16 at 4:00PM
The fourth in the annual offering of Gather In Gratitude concerts just before the Thanksgiving holiday will include a variety of new repertoire for this performance from classical, folk, jazz, and musical theater genres. The choral works will each reflect the seasons of the year and comment on the seasons of our own lives. Composers will include Giovanni Croce, Elaine Hagenberg, Marques Garrett, John Rutter, Reena Esmail, and Shawn Kirchner. Grace's mighty pipe organ will accompany several of the selections, and a young dancer will interpret two works through movement.
NaperVoice, a fully auditioned choir composed of 36 professional and volunteer singers from more than twenty Chicago-area communities, is conducted by Philip Spencer, Founding Conductor/Artistic Director, and accompanied by Collaborative Percussionist Shelley May Hutchison, and Collaborative Pianist/Organist Dr. Zachary Zwahlen.
Proceeds will benefit this concert's designated local service organization, Literacy DuPage, a nonprofit that provides free, customized English tutoring to help adult learners reach their life skill goals. Tickets may be purchased online at napervoice.org.
