MUSIC
Music is a vital part of our worship and helps us express the inexpressible through the God-given gift of song. Through congregational hymns, psalmody, instrumental music, and choral offerings, we raise our prayers and praise to our Creator. Please see our dropdown "Music" menu for more specific information on Christ Church musical offerings such as choirs and our instruments. You can also check out and subscribe to our Christ Church New Bern Music YouTube Channel for videos!
Upcoming Events​
The Eastern Carolina Diocese's Schola Cantorum is singing Choral Evensong at Christ Church on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at 5:00 pm. Evensong is a beautiful evening service in the Anglican tradition. They will be accompanied by the new Taylor & Boody Opus 85 organ in the nave.
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Our new Organ Recital Series showcasing Opus 85 kicks off on Valentine's Day, Friday, February 14, 2025, at 7:00 pm. The performing artist for this first recital will be our Director of Music. Stay tuned for further information on the recital series. ​​
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Christ Church is hosting one of the Carolina Chamber Music Festival concerts on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 7:00 pm. Chamber music for strings, harp, organ and harpsichord will be performed in the nave. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: Carolina Chamber Music Festival
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Bach Music Meditation Series takes place during the 6 Wednesdays in Lent (March 5 - April 16, 2025) from 12:00-12:30 pm in the nave. Last year (2024) featured the complete 24 preludes & fugues from Book One of J.S. Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier. Each week, four preludes & fugues were performed in the order in which they are found in Book One: the first week starting with C major and the last week ending with B minor (Holy Week). This year (2025) music written for organ will be featured on the new Taylor & Boody Opus 85.
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Women Composers Sunday, March 9, 2025: Both worship services will feature music written by women in honor of International Women's Day (Saturday, March 8th) and Women Composers Sunday, as established by the American Guild of Organists.
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Music at Passiontide is a time of music and meditation on the evening of Good Friday. Christ Church Choirs and instrumentalists present either a Passion performance or an offering of Passion-themed music and poetry. This year's Passiontide will be held on Friday, April 18, 2025, at 7:00 pm in the nave and will feature a Passion setting for choir and strings written by the Director of Music at Christ Church.
Past Events​
Crossing the Alps was an early music trio tour based out of Christ Episcopal Church. Musicians included our Director of Music on harpsichord and organ, as well as baroque violinist from Japan, Toshi Amano, and baroque cellist from New York City, Oliver Weston. The trio performed at three locations in North Carolina the second week of December, including New Bern, Wilmington, and Durham. The performance at Christ Church was Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at 6:00 pm. Free and open to the public. ​​
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The annual Christmas Carol Sing-along took place on Friday, December 13, 2024, in conjunction with New Bern's December Artwalk. Two identical caroling sessions were held: one from 6:00 - 6:40 pm, and the second from 7:00 - 7:40 pm. Starting with jazzy Christmas tunes on the piano, attendees sang along with traditional and popular Christmas carols accompanied by the organ and the piano. ​
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Our traditional Advent Lessons & Carols was held on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 7:00 pm in the nave. This beautiful service featured choral music from the Anglican tradition and especially this year the music of John Rutter. The new organ was also be featured in the long postlude following the conclusion of the service. The choir was accompanied by a string quartet and the Handbells also played one piece. ​​
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Christ Episcopal Church has a wonderful tradition of a 30-minute Christmas Eve Chorale Prelude leading up to the 11:00 pm Christmas Eve service. Starting at 10:30 pm in the nave, listeners heard classic Christmas choral works sung by the choir and traditional voluntaries played on the new organ. This beautiful musical moment before the service is a lovely prelude to the final Christmas Eve service at Christ Church.