Music is one of our foremost ways of glorifying God, and is an integral part of the Episcopal liturgy, worship service and day-to-day ministry. Its power to communicate beyond words and unite a congregation in song brings us closer to God.
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Charles Banks
Organist and Choirmaster
A native of western North Carolina, Charles attended Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Music degree in Sacred Music in 1985. In 1992, he was awarded a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance with highest honors. A first-prize winner in the American Guild of Organists Competition (Western North Carolina), he studied organ with Dr. Marilyn Keiser of Bloomington, Indiana and Dr. Donald McDonald of New York City.
Prior to his appointment as Director of Music at Grace Church in the Mountains – Waynesville in 2018, Charles was Director of Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church – Westfield, New Jersey from 1986-2018. At St. Paul’s, he developed a chorister program for all ages and began the Friends of Music concert series. As part of the concert series, he conducted over one hundred works for choirs, soloists and orchestra, including members of the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Opera, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Orchestra of Saint Luke’s in the Fields, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and the American Brass Quintet.
The Incarnation Choir
O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
It is my hope that you will accept my invitation to consider becoming a member of Incarnation’s parish choir. Singing in a choir is a commitment of time and talent, but the musical rewards of being a member of a healthy choir are great! The choir’s Sunday schedule begins with a 9:45 warmup for the 10:30 service. Following church and a brief coffee break, the choir will run through the anthems for the upcoming weeks.
In addition to our dedicated volunteer voices, Incarnation’s choir is fortunate to have professional staff singers who come to rehearsal with their music prepared in advance so there will always be a strong, confident voice next to you or close by leading your section. Previous choral experience (college, high school or community chorus) is helpful and although the ability to read music is not required, the pace of rehearsals is geared towards singers with that skill. For members who desire assistance learning their music, I will be offering rehearsals on Wednesdays for each voice part. Weekly, choir members receive a PDF of the upcoming Sunday’s hymns, descants, service music, psalm and anthem with markings – no surprises!
There is no formal audition to sing in the choir, but an informal meeting to determine your voice part is encouraged. For more information regarding singing in the choir, please feel free to contact me by calling 908-451-5082 or by email at charles@incarnationwnc.org.