First Christian Church of Oklahoma City

Music and Fine Arts

Throughout the ages the church has lifted up man’s artistic nature as a fulfillment of God’s gift of creativity and an expression of worship. In keeping with this theological and historical perspective, the music and fine arts programs of First Christian Church provide an educational and performance environment for all ages and is intentional in its support of the arts in the community.

Cathedral Choir

The Cathedral Choir is the backbone of the music program through its participation in all of the worship services. Membership is open to anyone high-school age or older. The choir often prepares anthems with special vocal and instrumental soloists or ensembles, and participates in major concerts throughout the year. The foundation of Cathedral Choir’s repertoire rests on the great choral masterworks, yet music of all styles and periods is performed during the year. Rehearsals are held on Wednesday nights from 7:30 until 8:45.

   

Cathedral Handbell Choir

Cathedral Handbell Choir is for the experienced ringer and offers its members an opportunity to play five octave music that is both challenging and rewarding. Rehearsals for handbell choir are Wednesday nights from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m.

Concerts Under The Dome

Through the generosity and support of FRIENDS OF MUSIC a series of concerts is held each year in the sanctuary of First Christian. Musicians from the metro area as well as from First Christian present musical concerts ranging from great choral works with orchestral accompaniment to the ever-popular Jazz at Five with local professional jazz musicians.

Concerts Under the Dome and in the Amphitheatre bring musical talent to FCCOKC and are all coordinated by the Fine Arts Committee.  For these schedules watch the web site or call the church office 525-6551.

Artist In Residence

Rebekah Ambrosini, contralto, is currently artist-in-residence at First Christian. Rebekah is soloist and vocal coach for the Cathedral Choir. She has performed leading roles with Sarasota Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Tulsa Opera, Music Theatre of Wichita, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma and the Festival de Lille in France and is a regular solo artist with many major American Symphonies. Ms. Ambrosini made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2003 with Musica Sacra as the alto soloist in Mozart's Requiem. Recent solo engagements include Handel's Messiah with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the Monterey Symphony, Mahler's Symphony No. 8 with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir conducted by Keith Lockhart, Bernstein's Jeremiah Symphony with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and the world premiere of Richard Cumming's Aspects of Hippolytus with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. This season she will perform Azucena in the Wolftrap Chamber Orchestra's production of Il Trovatore, as Alto soloist with the Master Chorale of Oklahoma in Mozart's Requiem, Brahm's Alto Rhapsody and Durufle's Requiem with Oklahoma's Windsong and Handel's Messiah with the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Tulsa Opera Chorus and Symphony. Ambrosini is currently a doctoral fellow and a visiting instructor of voice at the University of Oklahoma where she can be seen as the Sorceress in the 2006 production of Dido and Aeneas.

Outreach to the Community

First Christian is the home base for the Oklahoma Master Chorale, an auditioned choir of forty singers who perform major choral and orchestral works in a season from September through May, and is also home to the Schola Cantorum, an auditioned choir for girls, a choir which performs classical music and which meets Wednesdays from 4:30 until 5:30.

Creekside Theatre

A fine-arts camp for children of elementary-school age held for one month each summer in the Jewel Box Theatre. A combined staff from Jewel Box and First Christian plan and direct this camp. Reservations may be made at any time during the year.

Creekside is for 4th through 12th grades each June for 3 weeks.  The kids learn music as well as drama.  It runs Monday through Thursday and ends with a dinner and performance where they sell tickets and actually serve the dinner.  This camp is a combined effort of FCCOKC Music Department and Jewel Box Theatre.

Schola Cantorum

Schola is for young women ages 10-18 and meets weekly on Wednesday afternoons.  They hold several concerts during the year, usually in connection with The Master Chorale.

Jewel Box Theatre

For 46 years, Jewel Box Theatre has served as an activity and as an outreach of First Christian Church. It is not only the oldest continuously operating community theatre in Oklahoma City, but the recipient of a special Governor’s Arts Award from the Oklahoma State Arts Council.

Productions include both plays and musicals, and play to capacity audiences for all of their 18 performances with more than 2,700 season patrons as well as the general public.

The Theatre offers acting classes, a national play writing competition with a $500 cash prize and possible inclusion in the regular season, and free workshops to area schools.

Gem Awards are given at a banquet to honor casts and crews of the season shows as voted by season ticket patrons.

For more information about auditions, volunteering, backstage work or any aspect about this prestigious theatre, call 405) 521-1786 weekday afternoons. Or visit our web site at www.jewelboxtheatre.org.