Our Worship Music
Joyful Noise for Every Taste and Talent
Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church uses music to engage and unite the faithful whenever they gather for worship. Music includes anthems and solos based on scriptural texts, cantatas and oratorios which tell the biblical story, and psalms, canticles, hymns, and spirituals that present the truth of biblical faith.
Each of our three distinct Sunday worship services offers its own style of music to suit the flavor of the liturgical program and the tastes of those in attendance. Sunday worship services begin with the most traditional hymns at 9:00am and progress to the most contemporary praise music at 5:00pm. Our director of music ministries is a versatile leader of a wide variety of instruments, including voice, organ, piano, handbells . . . even chamber orchestra during an annual Christmas concert. Our Sunday Worship Styles»
Additionally, on Heritage Sunday in February, our Scottish descendents dress in their clan kilts and play bagpipes to begin the worship service and to escort the pastor from the pulpit at the end of the worship service—as much a delight to see as to hear!
The church sanctuary underwent electronic enhancement in 2007 and now offers state-of-the-art sound management and video projection, ensuring all who worship an equally good listening and viewing experience.
About Our Director of Music Ministries
Email» or (619) 435-6860 x 17
Teres Byrne began her classical music training on the piano at age six, and by age twelve, she earned her first performing position as organist of her church. Study of percussion from seventh to twelfth grade led Teres to choose percussion performance as her major at the University of Minnesota, a decision that culminated in a performance at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
While a college freshman, Teres accepted the Lord as her personal Savior and followed a call to embrace every aspect of music ministry from contemporary to traditional. During this time, Teres’ interest in music, evangelism, and travel met fulfillment when the Musicians for Missions in Amsterdam, Holland chose her to be a team member to accompany the “Seek Ye First” composer, Karen Lafferty. For the next several years, passion for music and the Lord rewarded her with opportunities to join gospel bands, worship leaders, and evangelistic teams, touring England, Scotland, and Wales in the British Isles, much of Western continental Europe, Eastern Europe before the fall of the wall, Australia, Mexico and the United States.
At the end of the tours, Teres answered a new call to pursue a ministry in acting, beginning with a role at Lamb’s Players Theatre then progressing to Los Angeles as an actress and voice-over artist in television, film, and commercials. There, she began re-cultivating her classical roots as organist at two churches in the San Fernando Valley. At last, settled in one place, Teres resumed and completed her coursework toward a Baccalaureate Degree in Theology with a concentration in music and worship from the King’s College and Seminary.
As a lifetime professional pianist, Teres has entertained thousands of guests attending weddings, special public events, and private parties. While Teres was the substitute organist for churches of numerous denominations, a San Diego liturgical church discovered and offered her a music directorship, a seemingly perfect position, placing her in proximity to the organ, allowing her freedom to match music to sermon message, and making use of her seasoned ability to nurture confidence in volunteer musicians.
In January 2010, Teres accepted our invitation to serve as Director of Music Ministries to share her spiritual gifts and lead our congregation in musical worship of the Lord.
About Our Organist and Pianist
Email» or (619) 435-6860 x 0
Sonja Lundgren has been sharing her gift of music with Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church since 2005. She finds the time spent with the Chancel Choir both fun and a personal challenge to better the music and create more meaningful worship for the congregation.
Sonja's childhood offered numerous opportunities to learn and perform music in the school. It came as no surprise to friends and family that she majored in music education at the Iowa State University, where she received her baccalaureate. She later earned a master's degree in music from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.
Sonja is certified to teach gifted and talented students. After relocating to Coronado from the Midwest, Sonja taught instrumental music to local elementary school students. Currently, in addition to teaching music in private lessons, she instructs two orchestras at Aviara Oaks Middle School in Carlsbad.
Chancel Choir
The Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir is a group of talented volunteers who use their musical gifts to sing for the glory of the Lord and bring people into His presence, where lives change and needs find fulfllment. Whether by choir, special guests, or instruments, our music ignites the congregation into worship.
If you can hum a lullaby or sing the national anthem, you’re capable of filling the sanctuary with audible joy each Sunday morning. Our director of music ministries creatively draws the best from every choir member. And our fabulous state-of-the-art audio/visual system enhances Chancel Choir sound and records the worship music for everyone to sample online.
Please join us at any rehearsal, and voice your interest!
| Rehearsal Schedule | Th 7:00–8:30pm Sep–Jun Su 8:00–8:30am before worship service performance |
|---|---|
| Performance Schedule | Su 9:00–10:00am traditional worship service Christian and select other holidays |
| Location | Center for Christian Education 949 C Avenue, Coronado Download a Campus Map |
| Invitation | open to members of the congregation 15 years of age and older a heart for worship no auditions no prior choral experience necessary |
| Purpose | lead the congregation in musical worship |
| Advantages | good ear for pitch ability to read musical notation |
| Training | get-started class available |
| Cost | sheet music and choir robes provided at no cost |
| Contact | Teres Byrne, Director of Music Ministries Email or (619) 435–6860 x 17 |
Instrumentalists
Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church welcomes instrumentalists with a heart for worship and a desire to offer their musical gifts to glorify the Lord. Instrumental musicians lend their talent to accompany the Chancel Choir, worship teams, and occasional soloists.
| Rehearsal Schedule | on an as-needed basis |
|---|---|
| Performance Schedule | no firm schedule |
| Location | Center for Christian Education 949 C Avenue, Coronado Download a Campus Map |
| Invitation | members of the congregation informal audition |
| Purpose | enhance the musical worship experience |
| Eligibility | muical ability, desire to serve the Lord |
| Talent | all musical instruments, especially brass, reed, rhythm, and string |
| Contact | Teres Byrne, Director of Music Ministries Email or (619) 435–6860 x 17 |
Bell Choir
Many sixteenth-century cathedrals had tower bells, some as many as six, to ring in different sequences to signal times of day or the starting of events. To provide convenient practice for those responsible for ringing the patterns—called bell changes—churches employed use of small hand-held bells.
So successful was this method and so pleasing to the ear was the music produced during these hand-bell practice sessions that someone, unrecorded by history, decided to tune the handbells to the musical scale. Thus was the birth of handbell choirs that toured throughout Europe in the 1500s.
Although the single bell in the Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church belfry doesn't require bell change practice, we have a beautiful set of handbells and a talented group of players who confess to having a ball ringing bells to glorify God during special worship services each year.
Sit in on any rehearsal session. We're pretty certain you won't be able to resist chiming in!
| Rehearsal Schedule | T 8:30–9:30am Sep–Jun Su 8:00–8:30am before worship service performance |
|---|---|
| Performance Schedule | Su 9:00–10:00am Traditional Worship Service Christian and select other holidays |
| Location | Center for Christian Education 949 C Avenue, Coronado Download a Campus Map |
| Invitation | members of the congregation 15 years of age and older no audition no prior choir experience necessary |
| Purpose | glorify the Lord through musical worship |
| Advantages | good ear for pitch ability to read musical notation |
| Contact | Teres Byrne, Director of Music Ministries Email or (619) 435–6860 x 17 |
Kidz Choir
The Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church Kidz Choir is on vacation until further notice. This group of young voices from preschool through grade six relies upon the availability of staff as well as the meshing of busy family schedules. When timing is right, the Kidz Choir leads both the Traditional and Blended Worship Services in one joyfully animated song on the first Sunday of the month.
Several years ago, the Kidz Choir was the fortunate recipient of an extraordinary gift made by the Women's Coordinating Team. A complete set of Suzuki Orff instruments gives children the opportunity to learn to accompany their voices with the pleasant percussive sounds of mallets meeting metallophones, glockenspiels, and xylophones.
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Praise Bands
Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church has two Praise Bands comprised of volunteer musicians. One team brings a more contemporary sound to the 10:30am Sunday Blended Worship Service, and a second team rocks the 5:00pm Sunday Contemporary Praise Worship Service.
Both teams welcome new singers and instrumentalists who have a heart for worship and a desire to offer their musical gifts to glorify the Lord. The state-of-the-art sound system installed in the sanctuary guarantees to amplify the congregation's enthusiasm.
| Rehearsal Schedule Jan–Dec | Blended Worship Service team rehearses during the week
Contemporary Praise Worship Service team rehearses Su 3:00–4:45pm |
|---|---|
| Performance Schedule | Su 10:30–11:30am Blended Worship Service Su 5:00–6:00pm Contemporary Praise Worship Service except the last Su each month |
| Location | Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church sanctuary 975 C Avenue, Coronado, CA Download a Campus Map |
| Invitation | members of the congregation 14 years of age and older a heart for worship desire to offer musical gifts to glorify the Lord |
| Eligibility | musical ability informal audition casual, but respectful, attire |
| Talent | drummers, guitarists, keyboardists, vocalists, and other musicians |
| Contact | Teres Byrne, Director of Music Ministries Email or (619) 435–6860 x 17 |
Summer Singalong
Begun in 2010, this summer opportunity attracts families who love voice their love of music. Throughout July and August, singalongs invite all to learn and sing traditional hymns and contemporary praise songs. Our director of music ministries shares the story behind each song, too, including songwriter, composer, and theology. All voices welcome, ability to read musical notation not necessary.
| Schedule | Thursdays through August 19 |
|---|---|
| Time | 7:00–8:00pm |
| Location | Graham Memorial Presbyterian
Church sanctuary 975 C Avenue, Coronado Downloadable Campus Map PDF» |
| Invitation | families, kindergarten–adults |
| Purpose | family fun and fellowship to develop appreciation for traditional hymns and contemporary praise songs learn the history behind our worship music |
| RSVP | not required |
| Contact | Teres Byrne, Director of Music Ministries Email» or (619) 435–6860 x 17 |
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