Music at FUMC, Baton Rouge

12/19/2023

A highlight of the Advent season has been this setting of the Spanish hymn, "All Earth Is Hopeful" by James Bobb as sung at Music Sunday on December 10.

11/28/2023

Invite a friend and join us in worship as the Chancel Choir and Festival Orchestra offer music of the season Sunday, December 10 at the 8:30 and 11 a.m. services in the sanctuary! Childcare is available in the nursery.
First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge

11/09/2023

Enjoy "Bound for the Promised Land" arranged by Mack Wilberg for four-hand piano and sung by our Chancel Choir on All Saints' Sunday, November 5, 2023.

11/06/2023

We are excited to share the recording from our Community Hymn Festival, "Sing The Love Amazing," that was led by James Bobb on October 22. A special thanks to Baton Rouge area choirs, clergy, and the community for joining us as we united our voices in song!

Musicians and friends of Baton Rouge, Louisiana joined together for a Community Hymn Festival led by James E. Bobb of St. Olaf College on Sunday, October 22,...

10/16/2023

"For the love of God is broader than the measure of man's mind;
And the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.
But we make his love too narrow by false limits of our own;
And we magnify his strictness with a zeal he will not own."

First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana There's a Wideness in God's Mercy by Maurice BevanChancel Choir Lamar Drummonds, Director of ...

09/15/2023

It is always a joy to welcome Dr. Brandon Hendrickson, Professor of Voice at LSU, to share his talents in worship! Enjoy Dvorak's setting of "I Will Sing New Songs of Gladness" here:

First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana I Will Sing New Songs of Gladness, Op. 99, No. 5 by Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)Dr. Brandon Hendrickson...

08/21/2023

With over 40 children in the 3-5th Grade Choir and 28 in K-2nd, Sunday Nights at First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge are off to a roaring success! After dinner, children participate in music, missions, arts, and spiritual formation. It is not too late to join us! Invite a friend and register at firstmethodistchildren.org/
Special thanks to our lead music teachers, Dr. Jason Bowers and Gabi Pettigrew, and Lamar Drummonds, Holden Miller, and Sarah Wright.

06/27/2023

The Chancel Choir and musicians of First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge were honored to provide music for the Annual Louisiana Conference of The United Methodist Church Ordination Service on June 15, 2023. The offertory featured "For Everyone Born" arranged by Tom Trenny.

To hear more music from First United Methodist, subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/

05/15/2023

Enjoy this anthem as sung by the Chancel Choir at First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge, LA. This lush setting is composed by Philip Wilby and utilizes text from John 14:15-18.

Invite a friend and join us for Sanctuary Worship Sundays at 8:30 or 11 a.m.

Lamar Drummonds, Director of Music and Worship
Holden Miller, Associate Director of Music and Organist

First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana If Ye Love Me by Philip WilbyChancel Choir Lamar Drummonds, Director of Music and WorshipHolden Mille...

05/04/2023

May the Fourth Be With You!

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-Learn how to get involved in the Music Ministry at First United Methodist of Baton Rouge by emailing [email protected]

-First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge offers something for everyone at firstmethodist.org, including sanctuary worship Sundays at 8:30 and 11 a.m.

05/01/2023

Enjoy this anthem composed by Howard Helvey as sung by the Chancel Choir at First United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge, LA. This marvelous festival setting of the rich text by Frederick Brodie MacNutt continues the celebration of Eastertide.

Lamar Drummonds, Director of Music and Worship
Holden Miller, Associate Director of Music and Organist
Dr. Matthew Vangjel, Trumpet

First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge

First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana Let All the Multitudes of Light by Howard Helvey Chancel Choir Dr. Matthew Vangjel, TrumpetLamar Drum...

04/18/2023

Celebrate the Easter Season with us as it continues until the Day of Pentecost on May 28! Enjoy this congregational hymn from Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023.

The first Wesleyan Chapel in London, England was a deserted iron foundry and became known as the Foundry Meeting House. This hymn text was written by Charles Wesley for the first service in this chapel in 1739. The popularity of this hymn is due in part to the fine tune with which it has been wedded for many years. The composer of the music has never been identified.

First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana Congregational Hymn: Christ The Lord is Risen Today – Easter HymnAs sung on Easter Sunday, April 9, 2...

04/04/2023

A musical meditation for Holy Week from Holden Miller's concert in March:

Many believe this hymn by Isaac Watts to be among the greatest hymns in the English language. When Watts contemplated the cross he saw all his accomplishments as nothing. He refers to Galatians 6:14, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,” then vividly describes the suffering of Jesus by directing the attention to the head, hands, and feet of Christ. Watts conveys Jesus' divine love as so amazing, that it demands "my soul, my life, my all."

First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana Congregational Hymn: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross – HamburgAs sung at Holden Miller's concert on ...

03/24/2023

The recording of Holden Miller's organ concert from Sunday, March 19th is now available to stream on YouTube:

Holden Miller, Associate Director of Music and Organist, performed at First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge on March 19, 2023 on Casavant Opus 3932.Pr...

03/09/2023

Tigey Pulls Out All the Stops!

Tigey, Avery Waldrop’s Pre-K class pet, got to spend the weekend with her. Avery’s teacher asked that she document all the fun and exciting things they shared together over the weekend. A highlight was Tigey getting to play the organ following worship last Sunday. Tigey didn’t miss a note as you can tell by Avery’s smile!

03/07/2023

For the second Sunday in Lent, the Chancel Choir sang the Kyrie Eleison (Latin for "Lord have mercy") from Missa Solemnis, Opus 16 by French organist of Notre-Dame Paris, Louis Vierne. Originally performed in 1901 at Saint-Sulpice in Paris, this work employed two organs in dialogue: The Grand Organ at the back of the nave, and a smaller Choir Organ above the choir. Here, Casavant Organ Opus 3932 serves both roles!

First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana Kyrie Eleison from "Missa Solemnis" by Louis Vierne Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison. (L...

03/02/2023

The recording from Sunday's concert: "REJOICE! A Concert Celebrating Black Composers" is now available. Share and enjoy! Thank you again for supporting this concert and sharing in our Music Ministry.

Musicians and friends of First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge performed a concert celebrating some of the leading composers of the Black community on...

02/27/2023

We are so grateful for everyone who attended our concert celebrating Black composers yesterday. Be on the lookout for the concert recording soon!

02/06/2023

Chelsea Chen's dynamic performance at First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge is now available to stream on YouTube:

Chelsea Chen performed at First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge on January 29, 2023 on Casavant Opus 3932.Program: 00:14 Henri Mulet – Tu Es Petra fro...

01/28/2023

THE FORCE will be stronger than any rain in the forecast! Bring a friend to hear celebrated organist, Chelsea Chen, in concert Sunday, January 29 at 4 o'clock. This concert offers something for everybody!

01/11/2023

Invite a friend to hear renowned Chelsea Chen perform on the celebrated Casavant pipe organ on Sunday, January 29th at 4pm. This concert is not to be missed!

12/13/2022

First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge is thrilled to announce renowned organist Chelsea Chen in concert on Sunday, January 29, at 4pm. Ms. Chen will perform on FUMC's celebrated Casavant pipe organ. As always, this concert is free as an offering to the community.

Chelsea Chen’s dynamic playing has taken her to the far corners of the world. Her solo concerts offer a unique mix of traditional organ repertoire along with piano/orchestral transcriptions and contemporary music. The Los Angeles Times has praised her “rare musicality” and “lovely lyrical grandeur,” and a compositional style that is “charming” and “irresistible.”

To learn more about Ms. Chen, visit her website: http://chelseachen.com/biography/