Music at First Parish
The Music Program at First Parish seeks to enrich and enhance our collective experience of spirituality and community through music. You may contact the Music Committee at music@fplincoln.org.
The First Parish Choir is the cornerstone of the music program, providing music for most Sunday worship services. In addition, the choir sings for two services on Christmas Eve and Easter. The choir’s eclectic repertoire includes choral classics, early music, gospel, folk songs and world music. The First Parish Choir welcomes adult and high school singers who love choral singing and the unique musical community of a choir. The ability to read music is not required, though it is helpful. There are no auditions. Rehearsals are Thursday evenings from 7 to 8:30.
First Parish is fortunate to have a world-class artist at the helm of its music program, Ian Watson, who works closely with the ministers to craft the worship services. Trained at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Ian has had extensive experience as a performer and conductor throughout Europe and the US. He is the Associate Conductor of the Handel & Haydn Society and Director of both Arcadia Players and of the Connecticut Early Music Festival. His outstanding keyboard skills greatly enhance the weekly worship services and the choir has flourished under his tutelage.
Not to be confused with the television series “Live from Lincoln Center,” First Parish’s concert series Live In Lincoln Center has gained a loyal following since its launch in 2012. Under artistic direction from Ian Watson, three to four events per year are presented, open to all for a voluntary donation. Renowned professionals more often seen at major Boston venues are invited to perform in Lincoln for a more intimate concert experience. Handel’s Messiah has become a December concert tradition and the First Parish Choir has had the privilege of performing with a professional orchestra and soloists for the series.
Under the direction of Diane Burke, the church’s Handbell Choir will continue the long tradition of handbell music at First Parish in Lincoln, and will ring for several Sunday morning services during the church year. The group brings a rich variety of handbell repertoire to worship services and concerts here and in the wider community. Watch the calendar for dates they will participate in services. Contact Diane below:
The Parish House is graced by a 1914 Mason & Hamlin grand piano as well as a 19th century Hutchings tracker organ, whose decorated pipes beautifully complement the warm colors of the room’s vintage stained glass windows. In the Sanctuary, there is a recently renovated 1970 neo-Baroque Noack Organ for accompaniment.
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