Beth Harmon, Choir Director
Elizabeth (Beth) Harmon is a graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, where she was a Voice Major specializing in Church Music. She has served as Chancel Choir Director At Cumberland Congregational Church, UCC, since 1979. Previously she served as Choir director at Williston-West Congregational Church, UCC in Portland. Beth is also Communications Coordinator at CCCUCC.
Our Chancel Choir rehearses on Thursdays from 7:30 until 9:00 on Thursdays, starting the Thursday after Labor Day, and ending in early June. Anyone, seventh grade or older who enjoys singing and can rehearse with us Thursday nights as well as sing at our 9:30 service Sunday mornings will be welcome to join us.
You don’t have to be a great singer to sing with us; within our group there’s a wide variety of experience and ability. It helps if you like to sing and are flexible and reasonably dependable. Few Chancel Choir members are able to attend all rehearsals or every Sunday. In today’s world, that’s seldom possible. We rely on each other to come as often as we can, and we need enough members to fill in the gaps.
There are some real benefits to singing in the Chancel Choir:
We have a great view at baptisms and for the Children’s Lesson.
Padded, comfortable seats are guaranteed even when the church is full.
We have fun!
It can be a great chance for spouses and partners to join an activity together
We are a caring, supportive fellowship.
Each member has a chance to
(a) learn a variety of styles of music,
(b) gain an understanding of how your voice works,
(c) work as a team to create beautiful music,
(d) learn meaningful, beautiful texts.
(e) become a better musician.
Most important, we contribute in an important way to our congregation’s corporate worship.