Music
Music is an integral part of worship at First Church. Led by our Director of Music and Organist, Bernadette Hoke, First Church's choir draws on the rich tradition of Anglican music to enhance the worship experience for all.
The choir leads the congregation during the Sunday services with a wide variety of hymns and anthems that celebrate our love of God and each other. Our hymns are drawn from traditional Anglican hymnals, including The English Hymnal, Hymns Ancient and Modern, The Hymnal (1940), and are supplemented by hymns from other Christian traditions.
The Sunday music program is frequently enhanced with innovative musical works, many of which are composed by our music director, and other modern composers. As a result, the average Sunday service may include very traditional hymns by great English composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams, C.H.H. Parry, and Thomas Tallis, as well as works by twentieth-century composers including John Rutter, William Mathias, Healey Willan and Bernadette Hoke.
The great feasts of the Church year are marked by special musical presentations and may include instrumental works for brass, strings and woodwinds.
The choir leads the congregation during the Sunday services with a wide variety of hymns and anthems that celebrate our love of God and each other. Our hymns are drawn from traditional Anglican hymnals, including The English Hymnal, Hymns Ancient and Modern, The Hymnal (1940), and are supplemented by hymns from other Christian traditions.
The Sunday music program is frequently enhanced with innovative musical works, many of which are composed by our music director, and other modern composers. As a result, the average Sunday service may include very traditional hymns by great English composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams, C.H.H. Parry, and Thomas Tallis, as well as works by twentieth-century composers including John Rutter, William Mathias, Healey Willan and Bernadette Hoke.
The great feasts of the Church year are marked by special musical presentations and may include instrumental works for brass, strings and woodwinds.
Bernadette Hoke
Director of Music and Organist
Bernadette Hoke is the Music Director and Organist of the First Reformed Episcopal Church where she directs a professional choir. During her tenure, she has overseen the installation of a new Schantz organ and conducted performances of the Requiems by Rutter and Duruflé, Handel’s Messiah--Part 1, and the Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes. She also organized and performs on the concert series “Music at First Church”. Ms. Hoke is the pianist and organist for the Collegiate Singers and the Dalton Chorale and teaches piano and chamber music at Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City. She appears annually as an accompanist and chamber player in various concert venues in and around New York City. She holds a Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music and is a Colleague of the American Guild of Organists.
Past Performances
The organist and choir present a varied repetoire of both sacred and secular works. Some representative performances of both the First Church choir and the Beekman Hill Ensemble are available below. Just click on any of the icons to hear our music programme in action.
Selections from Messiah by G.F. Handel
The Beekman Hill Chorus and Ensemble
Bernadette Hoke, Conductor
December 12, 2010
Bernadette Hoke, Conductor
December 12, 2010
For Unto Us a Child is BornHalleluia | His Yoke is Easy |
Berceuse op. 57 by Frederic Chopin
Bernadette Hoke, piano
October 15, 2010
October 15, 2010
Largo from the Sonata in g minor, op 65 for cello and piano by Frederic Chopin
Laura Bontrager, cello, and Bernadette Hoke, piano
October 15, 2010
October 15, 2010
"The Lord is My Shepherd" from REQUIEM by John Rutter
The Choir of the First Reformed Episcopal Church, Bernadette Hoke, Conductor
March 28, 2004
"Introit" from REQUIEM by Maurice Durufle
The Choir of The First Reformed Episcopal Church, Bernadette Hoke, Director
March 20, 2005
March 20, 2005
"Notre Père" by Murice Duruflé
The Choir of The First Reformed Episcopal Church, Bernadette Hoke, Director
March 20, 2005
March 20, 2005
Baroque in Rhythm, Claude Bolling
Jazz at First Church: Bernadette Hoke, piano, Laura Bontrager, cello, Mary Ann McSweeny, bass, and
Bill Hayes, drums
March 4, 2011
Bill Hayes, drums
March 4, 2011

