Music
A Welcome Message from the Director of Music Ministries
Music has the power to heal, to inspire, to enrich the very fabric of our lives. Music can strengthen us physically just as it develops our minds. Making music builds community – it requires us to work together, to listen to each other, to understand and support each other. There is something so fulfilling about coming together with friends, family, and other members of your community to create something bigger than yourselves, and music so often opens the door to that fulfillment. Music is an integral part of our community at St. Francis – whether you’re a seasoned instrumentalist or simply enthusiastic about singing in the shower, there is a place for you here to make music. In Peace – Will Zellhofer, Director of Music Ministries
If you’re interested in joining or learning more about one of our music ministries, reach out to our Director of Music Ministries Will Zellhofer by email or in person before/after worship on Sundays.
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The St. Francis Worship Choir sings at service each Sunday morning from the middle of September until Pentecost in late May/early June, with the exception of the last Sunday of each month. We rehearse Thursday evenings from 7 until about 8:15, and often meet for another brief morning rehearsal prior to singing on Sunday. The choir also provides musical support (upon request) at funerals, memorials, and weddings held at St. Francis. In addition to supporting congregational singing throughout worship on Sundays, the choir sings an anthem each week during the offertory. Some of the composers we have sung (or will sing) in the 2024-25 season include Rutter, Tallis, Fauré, Schubert, Palestrina, and Mozart. Voices of all types are welcome to join us!
Our Handbell Choir rings during service once a month between September and Pentecost, most often playing during feast days and other special services such as the Feast of St. Francis in October, or All Saints’ Day in November. We rehearse each Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 7:30. All are welcome to join in on the fun – you do not need to know how to read music to play handbells, and in fact, having experience playing in a handbell choir can make learning to read music or play another instrument significantly easier down the road.
Once per month (the last Sunday of each month, barring special circumstances) when the Worship Choir is on break, the Praise Band leads music in worship with more contemporary selections. We are always looking for more people to sing with us, but if you play an instrument that you think we might be able to feature in the Praise Band, let’s have a conversation about making it happen! Praise band rehearsals are flexible, and are scheduled based on the availability of the musicians singing/playing that month.
William (Will) Zellhofer
he/him
Director of Music Ministries
About Me:
I was born and raised in Baltimore City. When I was 10 years old, I started taking piano lessons with a dear family friend who worked as the music director of a local church, and playing music has been an enormous part of my life ever since. Along those lines, I love musical theatre and a good amount of my free time is spent teaching music to actors and playing in orchestras for theatres around the Baltimore area. I graduated with honors from Goucher College, where I studied music and history. When I’m not playing music, I greatly enjoy reading and watching documentaries, watching most sports (especially football), and I love animals, especially large dogs.
My Role:
My current responsibilities at St. Francis include planning and selecting music for our Sunday services with the help of our wonderful clergy, rehearsing that music with the St. Francis Worship Musicians, and recording and/or performing that music for Sunday services. I am also available to serve both as an accompanist or advisor for any other events the Church may need music or musicians for, such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, and more.
My Dream for St. Francis:
I believe that as long as St. Francis is a place where each and every person feels welcomed, loved, and accepted, regardless of whether they’ve been attending services for years or if they’ve never stepped foot inside of a Church before, we are on the right path. If we as a Parish and Community Center are able to consistently help those who need our assistance, whether that be spiritually, emotionally, physically, or otherwise, we are on the right path. There are a lot of things that happen at St. Francis that bring us closer to God each day – things like checking up on a member of the community to see if they need anything, or singing a song together during worship, and it’s in experiencing those everyday moments with each other and with God that make me think St. Francis is on the right path.
A Few of my Favorite Things:
Color: Orange
Vacation Spot: I think the most amazing spot I’ve ever visited while on a trip was Uluwatu Temple in Bali, Indonesia.
Fun fact:
While I was in college, I taught myself how to play the accordion so that I could play in the orchestra for a production of Fiddler on the Roof. I also started taking tuba lessons while in college, so between those two instruments and the piano, I like to joke that I only play instruments that are bulky and hard to tote around.
The Rev. Dr. Amy Slaughter
she/her
Rector
About Me:
Preacher, justice seeker, Episcopal priest, community organizer, theologian, parent of three artistic young adult children. Native North Carolinian. Bookish. I believe God is up to something beautiful in this world, and I’m grateful we get to be a part of it.
My Role:
Rector is an old-fashioned word for pastor and administrative head of a church. As Rector I get to do what I love: support and nurture a faith community in the Episcopal tradition. Rectors are generalists; I get to wear a lot of hats, sometimes all in the same day. Preaching and presiding at Sunday worship, connecting one-on-one and in small groups at Welcome Table Wednesday, checking in with folks in crisis or in immediate need of care, meeting with those mourning a loss or celebrating an upcoming baptism, writing sermons, showing up at county meetings to make our neighborhood a better place and so much more. Mostly, I listen deeply – for what God is doing here and in the world, for what people need, and for how St. Francis can keep becoming a community where everyone belongs and everyone matters.
My Dream for St. Francis:
Listens to the Spirit, practices wide and generous welcome, shows up for each other and our neighbors, and isn’t afraid to ask big questions and have hard conversations.
A Few of my Favorite Things:
Hobby: Spending time by the water recharging and reflecting; journaling
Book/Movie/TV Show: Narrative non-fiction that reads like fiction – faves include Patrick Radden Keefe
Fun fact:
I come from a theatrical family and began working as an actor myself as a kid.
From the Director
An Invitation to Sing & Play this Fall
St. Francis’ Handbell and Worship Choirs will be returning to their regularly scheduled ringing, singing, and rehearsing at the beginning of next month, and I wanted to...
