Music at First

Celebrating God’s word through music is an important and joyous part of our worship experience. Our varied music program offers outstanding music opportunities for participants of all ages and levels of experience.

Besides our music groups listed below, there are many other opportunities for instrumentalists and vocalists to share their musical gifts by providing special music in our worship services. Please consider adding your talents to our worship.

For more information about our music program, please get in touch with Velda Graham Bell, our Director of Music Ministries and Organist. There is joy to be shared through music!

Handbells

Our graded handbell program led by Derek Bromme offers fellowship, challenge, and string of talents for worship and outreach. All groups rehearse in the Bell Room.

  • Class Ring (Grades 7 - 12) - Wednesdays at 7:30 pm.

  • Cast in Bronze (Adults) - Wednesdays at 6:30 pm.

  • Strikepoint (Auditioned concert and touring ensemble) - Sundays at 11:30 am.

Special Handbell Ensembles:
Extollers and Strikepoint

  • Strikepoint: Concert ensemble, touring and recording since 1984. One of the country’s top handbell ensembles.
    Strikepoint concert ensemble website

  • Extollers: Christmas Eve reunion bell choir, usually about 30 strong

A group of people performing music and singing, with some playing guitars, a keyboard, drums, and others holding microphones and sheet music in a room with a wooden wall.

Tapestry

Our worship band Tapestry enjoys giving a new twist to tunes and plays many genres of music. Short-term commitments or fill-in opportunities are possible, if that fits your schedule better. Led by Leah and Corey Hulst, the group rehearses on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm in the sanctuary.

Sanctuary Choir

Derek Bromme leads our Sanctuary Choir providing music for worship in a variety of styles from classical to gospel.
The choir rehearses on Wednesdays in the East Lounge at 5:10 pm. They welcome new members, including high school and college students.

Children singing on stage with a woman directing, in an indoor setting.

Musical Instruments at First

A church pipe organ with tall metallic pipes on a wooden back panel, placed behind a white railing with a floral arrangement at the front.
Learn more about FUMC's organs
Visit our Music Photo Gallery
A row of brass handbells with black handles on a blue tablecloth, with sheet music stands holding open sheets music behind the table.
A choir and orchestra performing on stage, with a conductor leading them, in a concert hall.

Our handbell program has two 4-octave sets, a 5-octave set, and a 6-octave set of Schulmerich bronze handbells (with four extended-range Malmark aluminum bass bells), one 3-octave and one 7-octave set of chime instruments, two octaves of Schulmerich Silver Melody Bells, and three octaves of Petit & Fritsen Dutch bells.

Two professional-level, hand-hammered copper timpani from Ludwig add a new dynamic and voice to special occasions and special music.

JAM Junior

Beth Brophy leads a “fun-with-music” group called “Jam Junior” which is designed for our youngest musicians (1st grade and younger). It meets at 5:00 pm in the Chapel. Parents are welcomed and encouraged to attend with their children.

Joyful Noise

We are offering a new music program this year called “Joyful Noise” for children in 2nd - 6th grade.
On Wednesdays from 5:15 - 6:15 pm, children can explore a variety of musical activities including handbell ringing, singing, and drumming on our World Drums, along with a weekly spiritual lesson or activity.
Beth Brophy and Christine Winkler Johnson will co-lead this new, fun program.

Many quality musical instruments — from pipe organs and grand pianos to handbells and percussion instruments — enrich services and events at First United Methodist Church.

Our Sanctuary houses a 56-rank Austin pipe organ built in 1968 - restored in 2024, as well as a restored 7′ 5″ Steinway grand piano built in 1914.
The Three Brothers Chapel contains a mechanical action 5-rank pipe organ built in 1995 by Duluth organ builder Dan Jaeckel, and a baby grand Steinway piano.