Hi, I am Anne Waltner, Director of Music here at Church of the Redeemer. I play the organ and piano during worship, direct the choir, and help to coordinate the gifts of many talented people who contribute to our worship experience through music.
Redeemer is a diverse congregation and this is reflected in our worship and music style. This means that we really do not fit into any one catagory of worship style. On any given Sunday, the choir is as likely to sing something contemporary as we are to sing something very traditional or classical. We draw on the rich heritage of the African-American gospel tradition, as many other musical styles. Sometimes you'll hear the organ, sometimes you'll hear the drumset, sometimes you'll hear the piano, sometimes you'll hear the bells.
The difference is that at Redeemer, all of our music has one aim and one aim only, to express our worship to the glory of God, and in doing so, lift all of us in the congregation closer to his love. We find that by using a diverse range of music and worship styles, we are able to touch more worship, stretch ourselves spiritually, and find a unity in worship amid our very wide range of experiences and backgrounds.
Below are just a few example of the kinds of musical activities that take place to support our worship
Bells
The Malcolm Kerr Peace handbell choir provides a transcendant musical experiences several times a year during worship.
Interpretive Dance
The interpretive Dance ensemble provides a unique artistic expression of worship through dramatic body movement in response to music.
Here is a video showing a wonderful litergical dance done in time to a choral piece during the Christmas Eve 2007 service. Apologies for the low-fidelity on the audio....