Music at Sojourners

Choir Director Beverly SengBeverly Seng
Choir Director

Beverly has been singing in choirs since age 5.  She studied cello and voice at Augustana College in Illinois.  She has an MA and JD and taught environmental law before becoming a full-time homeschooling mom.  Before coming to Sojourners, she directed “Portable Choir,” which sang to shut-ins.  More recently she is learning the fiddle and celtic harp.  She has been directing the Sojourners Choir for over 15 years.  We are called to serve God with gladness. Through music, we can.

Pianist Timmie JonesTimmie Jones
Pianist

Timmie was born and grew up in New York City and received her BA from Mt. Holyoke with a major in religion. Over the years she worked as an elementary teacher and TV studio teacher and Adult Day Healthcare Director. She's currently retired. Timmie has also enjoyed being a Hospice volunteer for twelve years.

In her youth she belonged to Evangelical & Reformed and Congregational churches. She's been been attending Sojourners since 1994, when it consisted of a few people meeting on Sunday evenings.

Since 1995 she has played piano at Sojourners and at present accompanies the Walker Upper Elementary School Chorus.

Timmie declares, “being a part of Sojourners' music program has enriched my life. The diversity of music, the generous giving of time and talent by so many people, and encouragement by the congregation have been a joy.”

Sojourners ChoirThe Sojourners Choir

Sojourners is blessed with a wonderful and dedicated choir of about eighteen members. In keeping with the inclusive, celebratory character of the church, we sing music from a wide variety of styles and historical periods, ranging from the sixteenth-century Palestrina to the contemporary Brazilian Ernani Aguiar, and including along the way African-American spirituals and gospel songs, African praise and freedom songs, traditional American shape-note hymns, Shaker hymns, and songs from contemporary feminist Jewish composers. 

We sing unaccompanied, which is challenging but allows us to focus on listening to one another's voices rather than listening for the pitch of an instrument. Some of us read music well; some do not read music much at all. We carefully teach each part separately and offer one another plenty of encouragement. We have a lot of fun at rehearsals, drinking tea, munching cookies, and laughing together. Because the choir director, Beverly Seng, is an amateur just like the singers, everyone feels free to offer suggestions about the music, which gives the group a democratic flavor. Everyone is welcome to join at any time.

The choir is blessed with an enormously appreciative congregation. We feel cherished by the congregation, and their regard nourishes us every time we sing.

Sojourners Band

The Sojourners band began several years ago when a few Sojourners started gathering to play instruments and sing together for fun and inspiration. The band performs several times a year for Sunday services at Sojourners. It is open to anyone who plays any instrument or sings. The song topics range from spiritual to peace to social justice, and special occasion music as well. Instruments played in the band have included string bass, percussion, keyboard, acoustic guitar, dobro, banjo, mountain dulcimer, euphonium, violin, hammer dulcimer, flute and ukulele. Singers have enjoyed creating harmonies in all ranges of voice.