Music Ministry
Kevin Robbins, Director of Music
Kevin Robbins is the church organist, chief pianist and director of all musical organizations at the First Baptist Church of LaGrange. Kevin grew up in Countryside and attended Lyons Township High School. After graduating from LT, he attended Northwestern University, studying organ with Wolfgang Rubsam. Among his instructors and mentors were Margaret Hillis, John Paynter, Thomas Willis, Aarand Parsons, J. Allen Hyneck and Tom Roland. He has training and experience in many different musical disciplines. Kevin has served the church since April 1985 and originated the Concert Series. He also serves as staff organist for Hallowell & James funeral homes in Countryside and Downers Grove. An aficionado of gardening, he initiated the "adopt-a-space" garden program for the church which has proven to be popular for both the church and the neighborhood. E-mail: kcrobbins1@hotmail.com.
The Chancel Choir
The chancel choir is open to anyone of high school age or older (current age range is 16 to 70+). Performing for the Sunday service from Labor Day through early June, the choir sings music in all styles from classical to contemporary with an emphasis on the latter. The Chancel Choir also sings at occasional special services during the year. Rehearsals are on Wednesday nights at 7:30 pm in the Choir Room and last one hour. No audition or experience is required, however the ability to read music is beneficial. The fellowship is wonderful!
The Chancel Handbell Choir
The chancel handbell choir is open to anyone of junior high age and older (current age range is early teens to 80+). The Handbells occasionally perform for Sunday services between September and May and once or twice a year in the church's Concert Series. The choir rings a five octave set of bells and a three octave set of choir chimes. Rehearsals are on Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm in the Handbell Room and last one hour. No audition or experience is necessary, but, again, the ability to read music is beneficial. As with Chancel Choir (which shares many members with the Handbells), the fellowship is fantastic.
Ensembles
The music department is always open to new and alternative music-making. Tentative attempts at a First Church Band will be revisited as members are available. Currently the Quartet+ is an active and vibrant a capella group that performs for worship and concert. All possible combinations of voices and instruments are always welcome, as are solo endeavors.
The Concert Series
The Concert Series gradually came into being around 1990 and hit full stride in the mid-1990's. Primarily featuring the organ, concerts have included the Chancel Handbell Choir, staff soloists Anne Klapperich and Barbara Leader-Henning, other vocal and instrumental members of the music department and invited guest performers. The series has also included groups from outside the church, a practice we hope to continue and increase. Each concert has a specific them, such as "In the Garden", "From Screen and Stage", "Grand Opera for Grand Organ", "Reverie", "Hail! Thou Ever-Blessed Morn" and "A Warm and Peaceful Glow". Admission to the concerts is open to the public and is almost always without charge, although a free-will offering is accepted to benefit a special project, fund, charity or organization. A unique feature of our concerts is the extended intermission during which delicious refreshments are served. A new facet of concert giving occurred in 2005 when the church participated in the LaGrange "Hometown Christmas Walk". Refreshments were served and the sanctuary was open for all to listen to almost continuous organ music.
Musical Instruments
Musical instruments housed at the First Baptist Church include:
The 1978 Berghaus pipe organ (considered a rebuild, but practically a whole new instrument. The organ contains 36 ranks of pipes comprising a three manual and pedal instrument with memorial chimes and zymbelstern. This, the primary instrument in the sanctuary, is perhaps the best designed organ for its space in the western suburbs.
Memory Chapel contains a classic Hammond B3 donated in 2003 by Hallowell & James Funeral Homes. It is just right for the small gatherings and classes held there.
The sanctuary also contains a fine Yamaha grand piano, purchased in 1988 with memorial funds. The range of sound and the voicing are perfect for the room, spanning a gamut from "angelically delicate" to "intensely violent". A vintage Kimball serves the Choir Room and a Chickering Grand is located in Fellowship Hall. There are spinets in the Handbell Room and the Roger Williams room.
The church also owns a five octave set of Schulmerich Handbells which are used and maintained by the Chancel Handbell Choir.
The Handbell Choir also plays a three octave set of Schulmerich Melody ChimesTM purchased in memory of Howard and Betty Fenstemaker.
A New Project - And We Ask Your Help
In 2005, on recommendation of the Berghaus Organ Company, and out of sheer necessity, we realized that the organ console (the wooden box containing keyboards, pedals and stop controls, i.e., the "cockpit") needed rebuilding inside. This realization with vision from the pastor, director of music, and Berghaus Organs resulted in a new Organ Project.
The Organ Project has been broken down into stages: (1) console rebuild, (2) new choir division (expressive), (3) new echo division (expressive), and (4) solo trumpet. The latter two at the rear of the sanctuary.
Our current, congregationally approved goal, is to rebuild the console, replacing all air-controlled mechanisms with solid state components. This first goal will cost around $54,000. The total Organ Project will cost about $300,000, which includes considerations of structural alteration and improvement. One highlight of the Project's first stage is the addition of the Midi recording. This will finally get in gear our vision of CD's from First Baptist featuring Kevin Robbins.
Any and all contributions to the Project are deeply and sincerely appreciated!