The Arts at VBC

We value our gifts in music and the arts as they glorify God

Music

Adult Chancel Choir

The 30-member Chancel Choir leads worship at the 11 a.m. worship service. Choral selections cover a wide range of church music literature from early church traditions, to Bach and Mendelssohn, to contemporary composers such as Jane Parker Huber and John Ness Beck.

The Chancel Choir also offers special opportunities for worship several times annually. In recent years, an All Saints (memorial) service has featured presentations of requiems by Brahms, Mozart, and Rutter. At Christmas time, Advent programs featuring anthems sung by children, youth, and adult choirs have been presented alternately with such works as Handel’s Messiah and Vivaldi’s Gloria. Other occasions for special choral presentations are Tenebrae (Maundy Thursday during Holy Week), and late spring.

Children’s music

Through the choir experience, children from preschool age through 6th grade are learning that participation in worship is a way of serving God and helping the congregation to worship. Graded choirs meet on Wednesday nights along with children’s mission programs.

School-age children sing in worship periodically and present a musical every year. Because the children’s music leaders believe that preschoolers should not be pushed prematurely into “performing,” the preschool children sing for parents and friends in their choir room several times each year.

Instrumental music

The 27-rank Randall Dyer pipe organ and Kimball concert grand piano provide instrumental support for 11 a.m. worship services. Additionally, VBC has five octaves of handbells, with children’s and adult handbell ringers. The youngest children participate using the chime set.

Talented members of the congregation regularly provide instrumental music, including music of various styles on violin, cello, flute, saxophone, guitar, keyboard, and drums.

Drama

Since its founding in 1957, VBC has used drama and the arts as tools for its own community enrichment and to present opportunities for mission outreach. In 1958, the church produced its first play, In the Same Country. Dozens of sacred and secular productions have followed through the years, including A Man Called Peter, Godspell, Shadowlands, Fiddler on the Roof, and My Fair Lady. Presentations have ranged from full-scale, costumed musical productions with participants of all ages, to simpler, spoken dramatic sketches during worship services.

At Christmas 1967, VBC offered the wider Vienna community the first “Living Nativity.” This annual event continues, with carols, the biblical Nativity story, costumes, choral music, and live animals enhancing the depiction. The evening concludes with refreshments served in the Fellowship Hall, at which the congregation and community socialize together.

The visual arts

Weekly art classes open both to church members and the community have been held at VBC since 1984. Class members show their artwork annually in the church foyer between and after Sunday worship services. More than 200 individuals have explored their artistic skills through this program since its inception. Classes meet Monday mornings at 9 a.m. and Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m.