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“Make a joyful noise to the Lord”

-Psalm 98:4

Music is an integral part of worship at Germantown Presbyterian.

The GPC Chancel Choir enhances the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship services with awe-inspiring presentations. During the year, a variety of special musical events are presented. Many of these are accompanied by the 32-rank Wicks pipe organ as well as brass, strings, and other instruments.

Children participate in Worship Works, a music program designed for children 4 years – 5th grade.

Handbell choirs are also offered for Youth and Adults.

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 Dr. Jerold Teachey, Director of Music Ministry

Jerold Teachey joined the staff of Germantown Presbyterian Church as Director of Music in 1993. His extensive background in church music, youth choirs and professional vocal performance began in the churches where his father was a minister with the Church of God.

Jerold directed congregational singing, learned the old hymns, and sang gospel music along with his mother and sister as part of the “Teachey Trio.”

After high school, Jerold earned Bachelor and Master’s degrees from East CarolinaState University, and a Doctorate from Florida State University, all in vocal performance. He was a voice instructor at Lee College, Cleveland, Tennessee and Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In addition to academic teaching, Jerold had a parallel career in church music, and enjoyed developing dynamic adult and youth choirs for several churches.

He has sung opera and musical theatre in the U.S. and Europe. During a sabbatical he studied at the renowned conservatory Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Upon returning to the States, he resumed teaching at UT, and actively pursued his passion for choral church music. His wife Jan is a physician with the UT Medical Group specializing in Otolaryngology. Jerold works with her as Director of Voice Care Associates, a unique concept of medical care and voice management for the professional voice. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at UT Memphis College of Medicine.

Deeply committed to the belief that music is a transforming power during worship, Jerold has enriched the services at GPC with special soloists, brass and woodwind ensembles, children and adult bell choirs, and singing voices of all ages.

Jerold and Jan love and celebrate their daughters Quin, Lia and Jenna.

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 Dr. Alex Benford, Organist, Music Associate 

 Alex recently completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ performance at the University of Alabama where he studied organ and harpsichord with Dr. Faythe Freese. As a graduate assistant, Alex served as accompanist for the choral ensembles and as University Carilloneur at the Denny Chimes. He held the William Henderson Organ Fellowship at Grace Presbyterian Church for three years where he was also Director of Handbell Choirs. In addition to solo recitals, concert appearances have included choral masterworks such as the Duruflé Requiem, Benjamin Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, and Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms. Alex has appeared on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Georgia Traveler demonstrating the Albert Schweitzer Memorial organ in Spivey Hall, and one of his recital performances was featured on WABE’s Atlanta Music Scene.

Alex also holds a Master of Music degree in collaborative piano from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. During his eleven-year tenure as Staff Coach/Pianist at Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia, he conducted numerous opera productions and performed on the Spivey Hall stage upwards of 100 times as either organist, pianist, conductor, collaborator, or chamber musician. He has coached on the staff of the Harrower Summer Opera Workshop at Georgia State University and has served as coach with the University of Miami School of Music in Salzburg, Austria.

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OTHER MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES

Children's Music

Worship Works is our Childrens Music program. It is open for kids age 4 through 5th grade. Click here to see a schedule of upcoming practices and performances.

Chancel Choir

The GPC Chancel Choir is comprised of approximately 70 individuals (40-50 on average each Sunday) who love to sing and who are dedicated to leading our congregation in worship through music. The choir sings a mix of traditional anthem repertory, spirituals, contemporary/20th century selections as well as standard cantata and oratorio repertory. Trumpets, brass quintet and various other instrumental combinations are used frequently to enhance the worship experience. The congregation has grown to anticipate and expect presentations of sections of Handel’s Messiah with Chamber Orchestra during Advent and Lent.

The choir sings regularly at the 11:00 a.m. Sunday worship service. On special occasions such as Easter and the Sunday before Christmas and other dates, the choir presents special music presentations at both 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. worship services. (4-6 times a year). Rehearsals are at 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Wednesday evenings in the choir suite. New choir members are always welcome. If you are new to GPC and have a choral background, the Chancel Choir is the place for you. Contact Jerold Teachey , Director of Music, for more information.

Handbell Choirs

GPC handbell choirs are designed for all levels of abilities and ages. The goal of the handbell program is to glorify God with the gifts and talents He has given and to use those gifts as an offering for worship. Each bell choir rings the 5 octave set of Whitechapel bells which were cast at the London-based bell foundry in 1965 and purchased by GPC from an Ohio church in 1990. All groups rehearse in the bell room, UL217.

Alex Benford is the director of all groups and can be contacted here.

Adult Handbell choir – Whitechapel Ringers
This choir is designed for those who read music easily and have some ringing experience. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings 6:00pm – 7:00pm.

Jr. Liberty Ringers is part of the Kids Ring and Sing program (see Children’s Music above).

The Liberty Ringers is a handbell choir for youth, grades 6 – 9. This is a short-term choir that meets for 6 weeks at a time and offers their music in worship.