Music programs for adults

First Presbyterian Church enjoys the rich talents of music in the congregation. From members of the Dallas and Fort Worth symphonies to amateur players with high school and college experience, members volunteer their time and talent.

The brass ensemble rehearses regularly and plays in services about once per month. String and woodwind ensembles are assembled as opportunities arise. Four endowed special funds provide financial support for the services of professional instrumentalists. The church enjoys the use of a five-octave set of Malmark handbells, a three-octave set of Petit and Fritsen Dutch handbells, a full Orff Instrumentarium, as well as an extensive collection of percussion equipment including timpani and a trap-set, assorted Latin and African percussion instruments

The church has a number of good pianos including the McCarty Memorial Steinway grand in the sanctuary and the Allman Memorial Baldwin grand in the chapel.

Chancel Choir is a group of approximately 50 volunteer adult singers with widely varying musical backgrounds. This Choir provides the primary musical leadership for worship at First Presbyterian Church. Its repertoire ranges from spirituals to music of the Renaissance; from John Rutter to J.S. Bach. While the preparation and performance of liturgical music for worship is our primary mission, we also enjoy the performance of major works with orchestra. The Choir rehearses every Wednesday of the year from 7:00-8:30 pm. No audition is required.

Chapel Singers is a small select choir of 18 - 20 voices is for experienced, trained singers from the Chancel Choir who want the extra challenge and are willing to give the extra time required to perform the demanding works particularly suited to the smaller ensemble. Recent performances have included the Durufle Requiem, Benjamin Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb, and The Five Mystical Songs of Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Organs

First Presbyterian Church has two outstanding mechanical-action pipe organs.

The Kate Frierson Memorial Organ in the sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church was inaugurated in 1977. Built by Robert Sipe, it incorporates a significant amount of pipework from the previous E M Skinner organ which had been a gift of the W W Caruth family in 1929. The old and the new were artistically blended to create an instrument that serves magnificently in both service and recital.

The Sudie George Chapel houses an organ that was inspired by the instruments of Aristide Cavaille-Coll (France, 1811-1899). It was built by Dan Jaeckel in 1988 and is dedicated to the memory of W. Neill Stewart, Jr.

Tom Froehlich has been the organist at First Presbyterian Church since August 1977. He graduated cum laude from Lawrence University where he was a student of Miriam Clapp Duncan. As a student of Wolfgang Rubsam, he was awarded a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University. He has done doctoral work at the University of North Texas with Charles Brown.

Mr. Froehlich went to Paris where he studied organ for 3 years with Marie-Claire Alain and also studied improvisation with Jean Langlais. Concurrent to this he served as Organist-Choirmaster at St Michael’s Anglican Church in Paris. Mr. Froehlich has dedicated these recordings to the memory of Miriam Clapp Duncan (1919-2003), teacher, mentor, and friend to many.