MUSIC AT GOOD SHEPHERD

Music has always played an important role in the worship life of The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.  At 10:30 AM each Sunday, the semi-professional choir provides a rich variety of music from various traditions. In addition to the weekly liturgical music, the choir performs special concerts thoughout the year and on church holidays.

In the 2006-2007 year, Good Shepherd celebrated its 100^th anniversary.  For the celebration, the choir performed a commissioned anthem of John Rommereim – Psalm 150, which is now published by  Oxford Choral Music; lead and performed a Hymn Festival for the introduction of the new Lutheran hymnal; and performed  with Children’s Chorus of Bay Ridge in secular and sacred choral works.

THE ADULT CHOIR

The adult choir is under the direction of Katherine Meloan, organist and choirmaster. The Choir of Good Shepherd provides choral music and musical leadership for the 10:30 AM Sunday service.  This group rehearses from 9:00 -10:00AM and 12:00-1:00PM on Sundays and is open to anyone who enjoys singing, regardless of previous experience. Please contact Kate Meloan at the church (718-745-8520) if interested.

CHILDREN’S CHORUS OF BAY RIDGE

This choir meets on Thursday afternoons at 4:30 PM and is open to young singers between the ages of five and ten.  Basic musicianship, rhythmic skills, pitch recognition, and other important fundamentals are addressed. This choir performs at least twice a year. There is a registration fee for this choir.

For more information, visit http://childrenschorusofbayridge.googlepages.com.

ART ON THE CORNER CONCERT SERIES

This newly founded art series is an outreach ministry of Good Shepherd. Its goal is to positively serve and culturally enhance the Bay Ridge community.  There is a diverse concert calendar to reflect the culture and interests of Bay Ridge. You can hear an opera, see a ballet, or listen to a poetry reading.  Come and enjoy! There is a free will donation requested for performances. Please visit the ART ON THE CORNER website for a concert calendar.

For more information, visit http://artonthecorner2.googlepages.com.

MUSIC STAFF

Katherine Meloan has been organist and choirmaster since 2002.She oversees an active music department, leading music each week for the liturgies. Kate is a native of Miami, Florida and is a recent graduate (Master of Music) of The Manhattan School of Music. She is a recipient of the prestigious Bronson Regan Award for excellence in organ performance. In addition to her work at Good Shepherd, she is also solo recitalist and classical dancer. As an organist she has performed in the US, France, and England. As a dancer, she has performed with Ballet Long Island, Staten Island Ballet,  International Folk Dance Ensemble and has her own ballet business, Bridal Ballet.

www.KatherineMeloan.com 

www.BridalBallet.com

Rita Pihra-Majurinen is the director of the Children’s Chorus. She has extensive experience working with children as a music educator, choir director, and Kindermusik instructor. Rita is a church musician, pianist, and singer. She is currently writing a music curriculum for prekindergarten age children to satisfy the final requirement for the Masters in Music Education at the College of Fine Arts, Boston University.

 

Marie Koutsavlis is the assistant director of the Children’s Chorus and a board certified music therapist currently working with special need children.  She received her training at Molloy College, where she also studied classical flute.  Her musical journey began in junior high where she played the flute in her school band.  Marie believes that it is very important for children to be exposed to music to discover their musical talents.

ORGAN

The pipe work was fabricated by Aug. Laukhuff GMBH (Germany) and Russell and Company to specifications developed to provide the proper tonal characteristics in consideration of the acoustics of the church.  The organ is housed in and behind a free standing case of red oak in traditional frame and panel style. Façade pipes are of the 8’principal and 4’octave stops of polished zinc, and planed and polished 28% tin alloy. Hand-carved pipe shades of bass wood adorn the façade of the case.

Specifications

Great
16’ Bourdon
8’ Rohrfloete
8’ Principal
4’ Octave
2 2/3 Nazard
2 Flachfoete
1 3/5 Tierce
IV Mixture
8’ Trompette 

Swell
8’ Gemshorn Celeste
8’ Spitzfloete
8’ Gedeckt
4’Principal
4’Koppelfloete
2’Octave
1 1/3 Quinte
8’ Dulzian
Tremulant

Pedal
16’ Subbass
8’Principal
8’Gedeckt
4’ Octave
16’ Fagott
8’Trompette

Mechanical Suspended Action
Combination Action
Swell to Great
Great and Swell to Pedal
32 Levels of piston memory

 

 

 

 

 

The Adult Choir
Children's Chorus of Bay Ridge
Art on the Corner Concert Series
Music Staff
Organ