Calvary Presbyterian Church of Wyncote, PA
Serving the community’s needs for over 100 years...

Music is central to our worship experience at Calvary. Music primarily serves two purposes in worship. First as a congregational statement of belief, expressed through hymns, psalms and congregational responses. Second, as a focal point to direct the attention of the worshiper to a specific theme or scriptural passage.  At Calvary you will hear Classically-based music from Renaissance through the 20th century, as well as jazz, rock, and folk oriented selections in a very eclectic fashion, frequently many in the same service.  Select services throughout the year are devoted to a particular musical theme, such as gospel music, or rock and roll music, as a focal point for understanding God’s word to us, through the medium of music.

Calvary also supports a quartet of professional singers to prepare music for most Sunday services, to lead the congregation in responsorial psalms and to sing occasional solo works for worship. Choirs at Calvary are under the expert direction of Steve Rowe.  Kathy Wirth provides superb accompaniment on organ and piano.

Fine Arts Series

Calvary’s Fine Arts Series offers a variety of concerts and coffeehouses for the enjoyment of the congregation and the community. We make every effort to cover many different styles and forms of the Arts in these concerts. Past concerts have included Jazz Coffeehouses, Wind Octet Concerts, Irish Dancing, Bluegrass, Ashley Bryan - storyteller and illustrator, a Medieval Madrigal Dinner, Play and Concert, “Sounds of Africa” - all female African song singers and drummers, and a Schubertiade - featuring stories of Franz Schubert’s life and many of his most famous songs. Most of our concerts are free and open to the public, and child care is always available.  This series is entirely self-supporting, drawing its funds from private patrons, freewill offerings at concerts and occasional fund-raisers.

Calvary Choirs

The choirs at Calvary are open to people of all levels of experience. There
are no auditions or prerequisites (except the Bell Choir). At all choir rehearsals we strive to learn music for Sunday services, as well as learn about music and have FUN. 

The Cherub Choir is open to children from 3 years through 7 years (1st grade). We learn short songs by rote to sing in church. We also learn tone matching, rhythm, basic music reading, sight singing (solfeggio), and move to music in a fun, supportive and structured atmosphere.  The Cherub Choir rehearses Wednesday nights 6:30 - 7:00 throughout the school year, until May 16th.

The Chapel Choir (2nd-8th grades) sings more difficult one- and two-part songs, reading from the music. We also learn more advanced music reading skills, and study the histories of Classical, Rock ‘n’ Roll Music, and Jazz. The Chapel Choir rehearses Wednesday nights 7:00 - 8:00 throughout the school year, until May 16th.

Each year the Chapel Choir prepares a scriptural musical for our annual Dinner Theater, which takes place this year on May 5th.   An encore performance will take place for the entire congregation during the morning worship service the following day, for the benefit of church members who cannot attend an evening show.  The musical is free and open to the public. Funds raised from the dinner go to support these ongoing musical presentations by the Chapel Choir.

The Chancel Choir is open to high school students and adults. We prepare four-part choral octavos for the weekly service. A highlight of the year is the performance of a Christmas cantata on the third Sunday of Advent, December 17th.  The Chancel Choir also performs special music at 11:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve and during the Maundy Thursday and Easter services.  Rehearsals are on Thursday nights from 7:00 p.m. to  8:30. Child care is provided during rehearsal times. The Chancel Choir performs most Sundays from September to May 17th, with a break in the summer.

The Bell Choir is open to anyone with basic music reading skills from Junior High on up (younger by invitation). We prepare two- and three-octave Bell Choir material for Sunday services, and also accompany hymns and the choirs on occasion.  The Bell Choir rehearses Wednesday nights from 8:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Occasionally our services are enhanced by solo or duet instrumental or vocal pieces by talented members of our congregation and guest performers. All members who are blessed with musical talent are encouraged to share their gifts with the congregation, especially during the summer months when the Chancel Choir is on its break.