Cluster Choir Festival

May 3, 2009

All the choirs of all the Methodist churches in the regional cluster (Lompoc to Paso Robles) are invited to participate in the Cluster Choir Festival which takes place each year on the first Sunday of May. Hosting this event rotates among the churches large enough to accommodate the event, and this year was our turn. Choirs began arriving very early in the afternoon to rehearse their solo piece, and the host church provides lunch throughout this time. The last rehearsal was for the combined choir, all 125+ voices, singing the two mass pieces. The public concert was at 4:00pm.

The Arroyo Grande church is celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year!

Santa Maria First UMC

Trinity UMC Chancel Choir (Los Osos)

St. Andrew United Methodist (Santa Maria)

First UMC of Arroyo Grande Chancel Choir. During the offering, they premiered their organist's, Don McGuire's, 125th Anniversary March and Song.

San Luis Obispo UMC Chancel Choir

Atascadero UMC Choir

First UMC of Lompoc Chancel Choir

Combined Choirs

United Methodist
Cluster Choir Festival

May 3, 2009
4:00pm Concert

Prelude
Overture to "Barber of Seville"
G. Rossini
Donald McGuire

Welcome and Opening Prayer
Pastor David Burgeson

Hymn #98
"To God Be the Glory"

FUMC Arroyo Grande
Chancel Choir
"Precious Lord" by Thomas Dorsey
Director: Julie Walters
Organ: Donald McGuire
Piano: Sean Lehman

Santa Maria FUMC
"Blessed Jesu, Fount of Mercy"
by Anton Dvorak
Director: Jed Beebe
Organ: Marvin Stilliens

Trinity UMC Chancel Choir
(Los Osos)
"Living Water, Guiding Spirit"
by Joseph Martin
Director: Robert Mott
Accompanist: Elizabeth Clover
Instrumentalists: Janet Carpenter and David Hollenbeck

St. Andrew United Methodist
(Santa Maria)
"I Worship You Almighty God"
by Sandra Wood
Director: Meredith Worsham-Brough
Accompanist: William Woods

Offertory
"Anniversary March and Song"
D. P. McGuire
Premiered by Donald P. McGuire & the
FUMC Arroyo Grande Chancel Choir

San Luis Obispo UMC
Chancel Choir
"Come with Rejoicing" by Robert Leaf
Director: Chungsam Doh
Accompanist: Paul Woodring

Atascadero UMC Choir
"Peace I Give to You"
by Craig Courtney
Director: Torsten Juul-Borre
Accompanist: Sharon Cooper
Violin Solo: Nancy Hartley

FUMC Lompoc Chancel Choir
"Come to the Water"
by John B. Foley, S.J. Schrader
Director: Peggy Braden
Accompanist: Rachel Mello

Two Mass Anthems sung by the Combined Festival Choirs, including Estero Bay:

"Power of the Cross" by K. Getty/S. Townend, arranged G. Rhodes
Solo: Heidi Carpentier
Organ: Donald McGuire
Piano: Sean Lehman

"Holy Is He" (Holy, Holy, Holy)
by C. Cloninger/D. Clydesdale
Organ: Donald McGuire
Piano: Sean Lehman

Benediction
Pastor David Burgeson

Postlude
"Cujus Animam"
G. Rossini
Donald McGuire

Host Church:
First UMC of Arroyo Grande
Pastor: David Burgeson
Choir Director: Julie Walters
Organ: Don McGuire
Piano: Sean Lehman
Sound: Mike Herber
Festival Coordinators: Chuck Burns, Patti Melsheimer, Tom Egan, Jamie Foster, Julie Walters, Pastor David Burgeson

A gallery of pictures is available here.

First United Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande

Cluster Choir Festival