Music & Choirs
For questions or information related to the Music Department, please contact Dr. Anthony Williams, Director of Music.
We offer music and choir opportunities for all ages and interests. Our worship services are enhanced by traditional hymnody from the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal shared by our congregation, our magnificent Ontko & Young pipe organ, and our stunning John Phillips German baroque harpsichord.
On many occasions we are delighted to have various musical offerings from our children and youth choirs and our Kirk handbell choir. At various times throughout the year we enjoy guest musicians from the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.
Adult Choirs
Kirk Choir
Kirk Choir is the principal Sunday morning worship choir of First (Scots). This choir is primarily comprised of volunteer adults augmented by a quartet of paid staff singers, but is also open to youth in 10th grade and older. The Kirk Choir rehearses weekly on Wednesday evenings from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. and again on Sunday mornings at 10:15 a.m. preceding the 11:15 a.m. service. The Kirk Choir sings a wide variety of sacred choral music and genres ranging from chant to modern-day composers, and spirituals as well. The choir also presents special extended choral works, often with orchestral accompaniment during the Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter seasons.
Kirk Handbell Choir
Kirk Handbell Choir is open to all who would enjoy ringing to enhance our worship services. Rehearsals are held on Monday afternoons from 5:15 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. The choir rings for Sunday morning services approximately five to six times a year. The ability to read music is not a requirement. You are invited to attend a rehearsal to see if it’s something you would enjoy doing.
Summer Choir
Summer Choir provides musical support for our worship services during the months of June & August. Not able to sing during the year? You can join and sing with this choir during the summer! The summer choir meets on Sunday mornings only, rehearsing at 9:00 a.m. preceding the 10:00 a.m. worship service.
Children's Choirs
Cherub Choir for 4 & 5 year olds, rehearsals on Wednesdays, 4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Massie Bldg. #302)
Alleluia Choir for 1st & 2nd graders, rehearsals on Wednesdays, 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Massie Bldg. #302)
Kirk Choristers for 3rd-5th graders, rehearsals on Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Massie Bldg. #302)
First (Scots) Ontko & Young Organ
Ontko and Young
Charleston, South Carolina
4 manuals, 47 registers, 71 ranks
John Phillips Harpsichord
The First (Scots) Presbyterian Church Harpsicord was built by John Phillips of Berkeley, CA in 2001. It is patterned after one built in Dresden, Germany by Johann H. Grabner the Younger in 1739. Because of its Germanic style, this instrument is well-suited for the music of J.S. Bach, Handel, Pachelbel, Buxtehude, and other composers of the High Germanic Baroque Period. Made entirely by hand rather than constructed from kits (which are assembled by amateurs), this harpsichord is a world-class, museum-quality instrument and one of only two of its type (a Germanic harpsichord with a DD-d” range) in the United States.
