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, Messiah (Christmas Portion) and the Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes. Ms. Hoke has also written a number of liturgical pieces for use by the choir and congregation of First Church, including both service music and hymns. She is also the conductor and music director of the Beekman Hilll Ensemble, a chamber music group which makes its home at First Church. Ms. Hoke earned a Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music and is a Colleague of the American Guild of Organists. She performs annually with numerous chamber players and choirs as a guest pianist and organist.
The Organ
In 1993, the congregation installed a new pipe organ built by the Schantz Organ Company of Orrville, Ohio. The organ is installed in chambers across the front of the chancel and speaks through three tone openings; the façade pipes are from the Great 8' Principal. Schantz provided a three-manual drawknob console that is located with the choir seating on the left side of the chancel.
Concerts and Other Performances
First Church is a vibrant musical community providing opportunities for the performance of music in a variety of settings outside the worship context. The music programme presents a number of concerts during the year, including chamber ensembles, opera nights, and an annual performance of Handel's Messiah (Christmas Portion).
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.
"The Lord is My Shepherd" from REQUIEM by John Rutter
The Choir of the First Reformed Episcopal Church, Bernadette Hoke, Conductor
March 28, 2004
Selections from MESSIAH by G.F. Handel
The Beekman Hill Ensemble, Bernadette Hoke, Conductor
December 6, 2009
December 6, 2009
His Yoke is Easy
And the Glory of the Lord
"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