About Our Music

Being true to our Methodist roots, we have a very lively music ministry within our church providing both traditional and contemporary church music. A Senior Choir, a Junior Choir and three bands all enrich and enhance our worship.

In April, 2003 we replaced our pipe organ, whose origins go back to 1920, with a Phoenix ‘Digital Pipe’ Organ. This important acquisition for our music ministry was largely made possible through a special donation from William and Alma Tolton, long time members of the congregation. The new organ was initially used at our 2003 Good Friday and Easter Services. (Note that the organ pipes have remained at the rear of the choir loft and form a decorative facade for the sound generation from Great division of the new organ.)

Some details on the history of organs at Streetsville Methodist and Streetsville United, the organ acquisition process leading up to the decision to make this purchase and the Tolton ‘digital pipe’ organ itself are available. Follow our Installation Diary to find the latest information on its construction and installation.

In addition to its use during weekly worship, two events in late 2003 helped realize the full potential of the Tolton Organ. Our Tolton Organ Inaugural Recital, held Friday, November 7, 2003 at 8:00 p.m. featuring John Tuttle, one of Canada’s most widely recognized organists, demonstrated not only the wide range of organ music but also some of the instrumental aspects.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

At our annual Christmas Choir Concert on Sunday, December 14, 2003, our Music Director, John Shillingberg, adapted the orchestral script of Robert Shaw’s and Richard Bennett’s “The Many Moods of Christmas” to the Orchestral Instrumentation available on the Tolton Organ: tympani, cymbals, brass, flute, concert harp and string instruments. (Click on the player icon – requires Real Player.) Our choir reached new musical heights as our 127-year old sanctuary took on a new life during this presentation. Traditional Christmas Choral music such as Pinkham’s Christmas Cantata was accompanied by a mixture of traditional pipe organ and brass instrumentation sounds; one duet was accompanied by harpsichord and oboe. It was a full demonstration of our new musical versatility.

In the fall of 2002 we acquired a Yamaha acoustic piano for use during worship and other activities in our sanctuary.

Of course, ensuring that we can hear our service and music throughout the sanctuary is our very able and competent Sound System crew.