MUSIC & FINE ARTS

The Music and Fine Arts Ministry at St. Luke’s provides inspiration to those who seek expression of God’s grace and love through the performing and visual arts, and we believe that those creative acts are borne out of loving and supporting communities.

CHOIRS

Over 150 adults lead music across three traditional worship services at St. Luke’s, complementing Dr. Pace’s message with music ranging from Baroque and Classical repertoire to spirituals and modern choral anthems. As smaller communities within the larger church, singers’ connections go beyond Sunday morning worship and Wednesday evening choir practice.

Chancel Choir

Our largest choir at 120 mixed voices, the Chancel Choir packs the loft each Sunday morning for 11 a.m. worship. Annual highlights include the Christmas Festival with orchestra, four Easter Sunday services with brass, collaborations with guest artists, and a winter retreat. Chancel Choir rehearses Wednesday evenings from 7:15-9:15 p.m. September through July. Conducted by Sid Davis. Contact Sid Davis for more information.

St. Cecilia Women’s Choir

Founded in 2000, our women’s choir boasts 40 members and leads worship at the 9:45 a.m. service most Sundays September through June. Annual highlights include a fall retreat in Galveston, leading worship for Christmas Eve and Maundy Thursday worship, and occasional pop show performances and service opportunities. St. Cecilia rehearses Wednesday evenings from 6-7 p.m. September through June. Conducted by Randy Murrow. Contact Randy Murrow for more information.

Veritas Men’s Choir

Our men’s choir, founded in 2006, provides musical leadership at least once a month during both 8:30 and 9:45 a.m. services, allowing Pure Sound and St. Cecilia choirs a morning off each month. Additionally, Veritas and St. Cecilia collaborate for special Sundays and other worship opportunities. Veritas rehearses Wednesday evenings from 6-7 p.m. September through June. Conducted by Justin Bair. Contact Justin Bair for more information.

Pure Sound Youth Choir

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Pure Sound Youth Choir

Founded in 1996 by Director of Music Sid Davis, Pure Sound Youth Choir leads music most Sunday mornings during the school term at the 8:30 a.m. traditional service. Alumni regularly return to St. Luke’s and Pure Sound to join the choir and full orchestra in biennial performances of Vivaldi’s Gloria on Christmas Eve.

 These youth present a fully staged musical each spring and a musical revue at the end of each summer. Past shows include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Godspell, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Children of Eden, Beauty and the Beast, and Wizard of Oz. Biennial tours take them to destinations such as San Francisco, Cuba, New York City, Washington, DC, Alaska and the United Kingdom, with performances at locations like the United Nations, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, BBC4 Radio in the UK, and St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh. 

Pure Sound rehearses on Sundays during the school term from 4-5:30 p.m. Contact Sid Davis for more information

Children’s Choirs

Our Children’s Music Ministry creates opportunities for early musical exploration and builds a foundation for good singing. Choirs rehearse on Sundays (September-April) 4-5 p.m.

Pre-K (4 yrs. old by September 1) and Kindergarten
Our youngest children sing in JoyfulNoise!, directed by Julie Osterman and Erin Sovereign.

Grades 1-5
Elementary school children sing in SundaySing!, directed by Jane Long and Megan Kessler.

Grades 3-5
Sunday Sounds
meets 3-4 pm. Children learn how to play a variety of percussion instruments, and are directed by Jane Long.

All these choirs sing and ring in worship several times a year, as they become ready. Contact Jim Roman for more information.

Summer Musical


Every summer our elementary-aged children present a musical centered around a Bible story. They rehearse afternoons for one week, with a final performance on Friday evening. Past shows include The Lost Boy, A Little More Love (commissioned for St. Luke’s and written by Ken Medema and Grace Hawthorne), Lost in Yonkers and The Big Fish (A Whale of a Tale).

Do you love music? Can you count to four (or sometimes six and eight)? Do you know your right hand from your left? There’s a handbell group for you!

Chancel Bells Our adult handbell choir rehearses on Sundays at 12:45 p.m. Directed by Justin Bair. Contact Justin Bair for more information

SundayRing Our children’s handbell choir for grades 3-5 rehearses on Sundays at 3 p.m., just before SundaySing rehearsal. Directed by Jane Long.

THEATER

A yearning to tell stories drove the formation of our theatrical company, Tapestry Players. Five productions spread throughout each calendar year offer opportunity for a broad array of church members, whether on stage, in the chorus, building sets, sewing costumes, or running the soundboard. Recent productions include Bright Star, Leading Ladies, The Sound of Music, Lost in Yonkers, and Honk!. Our Rotunda Theater also hosts annual productions by our Pure Sound Youth Choir and Children’s Music Ministry.

VISUAL ART

Rotunda Gallery of Art


The Rotunda Gallery at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, established in the 1980s, has hosted many local artists, as well as artists from out of state, throughout the years. A portion of gallery proceeds directly benefits the fine arts at St. Luke’s and helps to maintain and build our permanent art collection. The gallery is located in the hallway next to the Fellowship Hall and is open to visitors any time the church is open.

Permanent Collection
St. Luke’s owns an extensive art collection of varied media — oil paintings, watercolors, stitchery, engravings, sculpture, prints, photographs and multi-media works — given to the church by many generations of generous members and friends.

INSTRUCTION

Bridges Academy of Fine Arts



Study music with some of the best teachers in Houston. Our instructors have advanced degrees from leading universities and conservatories in Houston and across the country, as well as exceptional performing experience around the globe. Bridges Academy currently offers lessons in piano, organ, voice, violin, cello, guitar, percussion, flute, and clarinet. 

Visit the Bridges Academy web page for more information and registration.

Friends of Music

The Friends of Music at St. Luke’s help to make glorious music happen every week. Since 2010 these generous individuals have contributed passionately so that worshipping God through music can be at its best in this place.

The Friends of Music fund supports:
Orchestras for the Christmas Festival and other major works
Brass for Easter and other special Sundays
Solo instrumentalists throughout the year
Special soloists such as Ken Medema, Cynthia Wilson and Nate Lucena
Partial funding for our music interns who help in worship and sing with all adult choirs every Sunday
Aids in bringing outstanding world-class ensembles such as Voces8 and Conspirare