Beth Watson,
Director of Music Ministries

The Sanctuary Choir is open to all interested adults. They lead worship each Sunday at 11:15 a.m., provide music for memorial services, and perform several concerts a year with instrumentalists.

Joyful Praise provides music for the 9:00 a.m. contemporary worship service. Youth and adults are invited to be a part of this group. Joyful Praise is made up of a praise team, praise choir and praise band and holds several fellowship events each year.

In Celebration our children, grades K-5, experience singing, ringing, playing instruments, crafts and games designed to enhance their worship experience. The program is offered jointly by Music and Children's Ministries.

Northwest Hills continues to become a place for promoting Music and Arts. Numerous community performing groups present concerts in our sanctuary. Groups that Northwest Hills is hosting this year include: the Chorus Austin, the Austin Vocal Arts Ensemble, the Austin Classical Guitar Society, the Texas Choral Consort, the Austin Chord Rangers, and Conspirare. If you would like to find out about all of the Music and Arts events here at Northwest Hills United Methodist Church, download our Music and Arts brochure. (Some notices of past events are shown at the bottom of this page.) Friends of the Arts, our volunteer greeter program for these concerts, is organized by George Brown (491-0131). "Friends" are available to welcome visitors and share information with them about our ministries.

The Sanctuary has a wonderful acoustic environment for live music. It houses a Steinway grand piano and a Rodgers digital, three-manual organ. The Choir Suite, which also has a wonderful acoustic environment, was completed and opened for use in January 2005. This rehearsal space has seating for seventy singers and a Kawai grand piano for rehearsals. The first floor features a large room for music storage, a handbell and children's choir rehearsal room and additional classroom space and offices.

Corey Candler,
Assistant Director
of Music

Darla Nicholson,
Chair of Music Committee

The Ring of Faith adult handbell ensemble leads in worship each month. The choir also participates in national and international ringing events throughout the United States.

The Redemption Ringers is a ringing ensemble for youth, grades 6-12. In addition to ringing for worship, they perform several concerts a year and provide music for all-church events.

Music and Arts Ministry is a vital part of the life of the church with over 150 volunteers participating in the varied programs. The budget helps to cover the cost of music for the choirs, maintenance of our beautiful Steinway and Kawaii grand pianos, five upright and three digital pianos, our 5 octave sets of Malmark handbells and choir chimes and our electronic instruments, in addition to supplies, copyright licenses, and the cost of mailings. The North Hills Gallery is funded solely by commissions paid by artists who sell paintings displayed in the Gallery. A generous donation by Dr. Jeannette Faurot is used to fund projects not supported by the budget that enhance the musical and artistic life of the congregation. The design, to the right, was selected by the donor as the symbol for this gift, a Chinese character representing music, joy, and happiness.

The North Hills Gallery seeks to promote local and regional artists in a setting that enhances and inspires artistic appreciation. Curators for the gallery are church members, Betty Jameson and Carolyn Patterson.

Maybe you have heard of the Northwest Hills United Methodist Church Yahoo! Groups. Here is your chance to join the latest group related to the music ministries here at NWHUMC. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NWHillsMusic/ and join! After joining you will have access to a host of information concerning NWHUMC concert dates, handbell performance dates, rehearsal times, links to other music websites, area concert and recital dates and even pictures! You can also print a calendar from the website and put it on your refrigerator so that you won't forget those important dates. Join today and stay informed!!!

Recent Music and Arts Events:

Berta Rojas Austin Classical Guitar 8:00 pm, Jan 26	Ken Medema Free Concert 7:30 pm, Feb 2	Texas Choral Consort 8:00 pm, Feb 8 3:00 pm, Feb 10	McMurray Chanters Free Concert 7:30 pm, Feb 22	Soloduo Austin Classical Guitar 8:00 pm, Mar 1
Chorus Austin 8:00 pm, Mar 29	Grisha! Austin Classical Guitar 8:00 pm, Apr 19	Children's Musical Free Admission 4:00 pm, April 27	Texas Choral Consort 8:00 pm, May 2 8:00 pm, May 3