Drawing on a rich tradition, our music program has been recognized as one of the finest in New York City.
Our Music Program
The First Church Adult Choir is a strong and integral part of the spiritual life at First Church. Under the direction of Michael Shake, our Director of Music, the excellent choral ensemble is comprised of both professional and volunteer singers. The weekly commitment and spiritual devotion of each member to singing God’s praises are the foundation of this ensemble.
Repertoire includes a broad range of music, from Gregorian Chant and Plainsong to Renaissance motets and the major oratorios and mass settings, to 21st-century compositions, including commissioned works. Twice a year, Vesper Services of Music with full orchestra are presented, which include major choral works, such as Bach’s B Minor Mass, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, and Poulenc’s Gloria. Many of our choir are heard in major concert halls throughout the world, including both concert and opera repertoire.
EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS
Listen to Choral Anthems sung in worship
Our Recordings
The Choir and Soloists of First Church have released a collection of recordings. From spirituals to Southern folk melodies, Christmas favorites, and albums spotlighting the range and power of the organ, there is something to delight all music lovers.
Click on each album to learn more.
AIN’T GOT TIME TO DIE
Songs of the American Spirit
This all-American program of spirituals and Southern folk melodies presents the very best that the American religious experience has to offer. The First Church Choir is conducted by Dr. William Entriken, Organist and Choirmaster. Soloists and musicians are Ellen Goff Entriken, soprano; Cheryl Zilinyi, mezzo-soprano; David Fox, tenor; John Shelhart, bass-baritone; James Bassi, piano; Walter Hilse, organ.
To make an online purchase or to purchase physical CDs, please contact the church at (212) 675-6150 or [email protected].
SONGS OF OUR SAVIOR’S BIRTH
A Festival of Christmas Music
The music of Christmas has become a particularly beloved part of First Church’s music traditions. On this recording, the First Church Choir, under the direction of Dr. William Entriken, Organist and Choirmaster, sings a selection of the carols, folksongs, and anthems the choir performs every year at the Candlelight Carol Service on the evening of the Sunday before Christmas. Soloists and musicians are Ellen Goff Entriken, soprano; Cheryl Zilinyi, mezzo-soprano; David Fox, tenor; Eric Johnson, bass; Susan Jolles, harp; Walter Hilse, organ. Fifteen tracks in all.
To make an online purchase or to purchase physical CDs, please contact the church at (212) 675-6150 or [email protected].
GRACE AND GOD OF GLORY
Songs of a City Church (2015)
In 2015, the choir and soloists released this album commemorating the 300th anniversary of First Presbyterian Church. The choral album features the congregation and choir singing the hymn “God of Grace and God of Glory” accompanied by brass quartet and organ. The choir sings many anthems that are favorites of this congregation, including “Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether,” the Christmas anthem “What is This Fragrance” by former organist John Huston, and the moving spiritual “Ezekiel Saw the Wheel.” A 20-page booklet accompanies the album, featuring a history of the music at First Presbyterian, historic photos, and anthem texts. Get your copy of this collection of sacred music today.
You can get our new album on iTunes, Amazon Music, or Google, and you can listen to it on Spotify simply by searching for “God of Grace.” CD copies are available as well. Contact the Church at 212.675.6150 for details.
A SMALL WONDER
Music from Alexander Chapel
No room for a pipe organ! The jewel-box Tudor room that is Alexander Chapel comfortably seats about 50 people, its gilded plaster ceiling, oak-paneled walls, and slate floor providing a visual feast. This album celebrates the perfect union of room, acoustical space and organ. The delightful program includes works by Lübeck, Bach, L.-N. Clérambault, Handel and others. Booklet contains detailed program notes and organ specifications. For further information about this unique artistic instrument, please visit www.glucknewyork.com.
To make an online purchase or to purchase physical CDs, please contact the church at (212) 675-6150 or [email protected].
FOUR CENTURIES OF COLOR
This exciting recording of the sanctuary organ shows the full dynamic range and color of this outstanding instrument (approximately 5,000 pipes). The full program features compositions from the 17th-century Golden Age of organ music to colorful and bold works of the 20th century and includes works by Buxtehude, Bach, Schumann, and Vierne. Of particular interest is the glorious sound of the Tuba Major, a commanding trumpet stop and addition to the instrument, which is featured in C. S. Lang’s Tuba Tune.
“Four Centuries of Color” debuted at the American Guild of Organists National Convention in Washington, D.C., and has been featured on “Pipe Dreams,” a nationally syndicated radio program heard on WQXR. This album joins the previously issued recording of the Chapel organ, “A Small Wonder, Music from the Alexander Chapel.” Both recordings have been made possible by Glück Pipe Organs, builder of the organs at First Presbyterian (glucknewyork.com).
To make an online purchase or to purchase physical CDs, please contact the church at (212) 675-6150 or [email protected].
Music History
Music at First Church has moved from cause for discord to source of harmony and strength. Today’s worshipers might argue with the old traditionalists: One of the “important things heard in the house of God” is the sound of music.
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Family Music Ministries
When children sing scripture, they remember it for a lifetime.
The Family Music Ministries at First Presbyterian engages our children and youth in making a joyful noise to God. Children of all ages are encouraged to explore and befriend their voices as they gain the skills to be worship leaders in the congregation singing at special events and services throughout the year. Emphasis is placed on music making as an act of praise and worship that extends from our gratitude for all of God’s gifts. Singers learn theologically rich pieces from around the world that reinforce their skills, as well as familiarize themselves with the great hymns of the church.
The music program works in partnership with the Church school September through May. Children are placed in age-appropriate groups.
Rachel Barker-Asto
Family Music Coordinator
In 2023, Rachel joined First Church as the Family Music Coordinator, directing the Student Choristers, teaching music for church school, leading worship for babies and toddlers, and spearheading community music outreach programs. She is a versatile musician with an M.M. in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance from Westminster Choir College and has been teaching voice and beginner piano for over 15 years. Rachel is a certified Musikgarten teacher, specializing in teaching caregivers how to interact musically with their little ones. Her commitment to nurturing young musicians is matched by her extensive performance background.
Rachel has been praised for her “bel canto chops, with a bright, lyric coloratura sound.” Notable performances include the American premiere of Salieri’s La Cifra with Dell’arte Opera Ensemble in New York City. She has portrayed iconic roles such as Queen of the Night, Adina, Pamina, Drusilla, Gilda, and Susannah, showcasing her vocal versatility and dramatic range. A participant in the prestigious Caramoor Festival under the guidance of musicologist Will Crutchfield, Rachel has delved deeply into operatic works from the bel canto period. Her recitals often feature music from the 20th and 21st centuries, while her collaborations with chamber groups like The Sebastians and The Paramount Chambers Players have highlighted her ability to excel in diverse musical settings. Rachel has also distinguished herself in oratorio works, performing pieces such as Barber’s Prayers of Kierkegaard, Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Brahms’s Ein Deutsches Requiem as a soloist.
