MUSIC AT IMMANUEL

Music at Immanuel is for everyone! Music, whether sung or played, is an expression of our faith, our sense of community and our lives.  In addition to hymns and spiritual songs, the congregation sings much of the service, using a rich and varied repertoire of musical settings.

The Choirs of Immanuel Church are the Boy and Girl Choristers for young singers age eight through high school, and the Mixed Choir for adults. The choirs are composed of volunteer singers from the parish and the Wilmington community, and membership is open to all interested persons.

Our choirs are liturgical choirs; they exist to support and enhance the worship of our faith community, and to nurture the ministry and spiritual life of all who participate. All choirs rehearse and sing weekly for the Sunday 10:30 Eucharist, and at feast days, special services, and for occasional weddings and funerals. Choral Evensong is offered the first Sunday of each month. Choir members of all ages receive intensive training in the art of choral singing at weekly rehearsals and on an individual basis.

Immanuel is affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music in America, and RSCM principles and training materials are used in the choir program.

Instrumentalists make a vital contribution to Immanuel’s musical life. Instruments currently to be heard include the flute, recorder, Celtic harp, guitar, and brass and string instruments.  New instrumental players are eagerly sought.  

Family Music offers the positive and educationally sound Musikgarten early experience with music to our youngest children and their parents. This program is offered on a seasonal basis for a nominal tuition, and scholarships are available.  More information is available by contacting Jack Burnam.

Musical Instruments: Immanuel possesses an outstanding Austin three-manual pipe organ, installed in 1969. The church also has two pianos: a Steinway model L grand in the choir room, and a Baldwin studio upright in the church.

Parish Musician and Organist Jack Warren Burnam joined Immanuel’s staff in 1975. His compositions and arrangements for choirs and congregation, many of them written for Immanuel, are in regular use. Several of his settings have been published in the Hymnal 1982, "Wonder, Love and Praise," and a number of other hymnals and hymnal supplements.  Mr. Burnam holds degrees in sacred music from Houghton College (NY) and Catholic University of America.  He is Past President of the Association of Anglican Musicians. A member of the American Guild of Organists, he holds the AGO certificates of Associate and Choirmaster.