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Ministries > Music
Jackson Street Baptist has a rich and long standing tradition of
fine choral music, singing of hymns and special guest musicians
throughout each summer and Holidays. The Senior Choir (approx.
20-25 members) have been and continue to be mainstays in worship
each Sunday providing, along with organ accompaniment from one of
the region's best organists, Ms. Trudy Hoffman, who has been our
steadfast Choir Director / Organist for over 35 years! Music is
and always will be an important part of our church and we
encourage the singing along with us! Christmas & Easter provide
additional guest musicians such as the "Touch of Brass", a 5
member brass ensemble, well known throughout our area and
comprised of several members from the church. We have had
harpists, flutists, timpanists, violinists accompany the fine
music presented each Sunday. The Choir welcomes all new members,
and previous musical training is not necessary, but sometimes
helpful.
You don't need the voice of a soloist to join, or even read music
to a great degree, just have the love of music and singing and the
willingness to join others in praising OUR Risen Lord in song.
We rehearse each Wednesday eve in the annex from 7:30pm - 8:30pm
and all voice parts are welcomed!
OUR PIPE ORGAN:
Jackson Street Baptist is blessed to have one of the areas best
kept organs for it's size and scope. In 1954, when the sanctuary
was being remodeled to be what we see today (in most of it's
appearance), the organ as well was replaced with a more modern,
state of the art instrument, built by the Reuter Organ Company of
Lawrence, KS. and completed in 1967. The current organ replaced
the Tellers instrument that previously occupied the
chancel/baptistery space and was originally installed in 1936 by
Tellers Organ Company of Eerie, PA. That also was a two manual
instrument of smaller size.
The current organ, REUTER OPUS 1588 is comprised of 2,218 pipes
which make up 21 ranks of pipes, playable from a 2 manual (or
kebaords) electrophneumatic console. The organ was designed by the
late Clifford Balshaw, A.A.G.O, an esteemed organist/consultant
during the 1950's throughout Northeastern PA. until his death in
the early 80's. It is built to A.G.O. (American Guild of
Organists) specifications and has been well maintained throuout
it's presence in our church. Even though no pipes are visible from
the pews, this stately instrument speaks to us each Sunday in
splendor and in song under the capable and trained hands of our
organist, Ms. Hoffman.
Previous organists have been Thomas Zenker, Mirium Jones-Hyer and
several others during the churches 138 year history.
TRUDY J. HOFFMAN
Ms. Hoffman began studying piano at age 3, under the guidance of
Alma Disler, then transferred to The Scranton Conservatory of
Music, as a student of the late Romayne Rodgers and the late
Clifton Brecht, Director of the Conservatory. In addition, she was
an organ student of the late William Richards, and became a Church
Organist at age 17, then a Choir Director, and has continued at
this beloved profession for 52 years. She has served a Lutheran
Church in Scranton as an Organist/Director for 17 years, while
simultaneously retaining the same position at St. Luke's Episcopal
Church, Scranton, and Immanuel Baptist Church, Scranton for
several more years thereafter. She free-lanced at many churches
throughout Scranton and neighboring areas for numerous years. She
quotes:
"I have been blessed to have the most
wonderful people who love their Lord and worship Him through their
beautiful voices. I believe I've been serving JSBC for close to
thirty years, and have been glorifying God with our traditional
choral and worship-full music."
No, WE have been blessed! We thank God for our choir, organ and
organist as we praise His name each Worship service. A fact is
that Ms. Hoffman has been organist at Jackson Street for
approximately 42 years, as both sub and Director of Music. In 2006
she was given an "AGO Presidential Citation" and "Letter of
Congratulations" on her Anniversary of same for her dedication and
long standing commitment to church music, by American Guild of
Organist President, Dr. Frederick Swann, former Director of Music
of Robert Schuller's 'Crystal Cathedral' and the "Hour of Power"
as well as presiding over the world's largest church organ at
First Congregational Church in Los Angeles, CA.
Information about our choir, rehearsals and guest musicians and
special music can be directed to her at: Musikandstars@aol.com |
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