Music

The Music Ministry of First Church works to invite, love, and bless all, building community through engagement in worship. Additionally, we present concerts that celebrate the diversity of God's people and their music. All are welcome to participate in our Chancel & Festival Choirs , our Bell Choir, and our Children's Choir. Our Music in the Meetinghouse concert series utilizes our historic sanctuary, 2010 Klais pipe organ, and Steinway piano to bring a variety of meaningful music to our community, and to provide a space for outside groups to do the same. Support our concert series, Music in the Meetinghouse, or our Music Ministry with a dedicated gift here.

For more information about our choirs contact

Dr. Frank Martignetti, Director of Music and Organist

Chancel Choir (9th Grade–Adult) This ensemble plays an integral part of our worship on Sundays, singing a wide variety of choral repertoire. Rehearsals are September-June; Thursdays, 7:30-9:00 p.m. The Fall 2023 season begins Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7:30. Repertoire and rehearsal resources for the season can be accessed here.

Festival Choir (9th Grade-Adult) Can't make the weekly commitment to Chancel Choir? Join us the larger group for some or all of the following: Christmas Eve, Epiphany, Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost. Spring 2023 Festival Choir rehearsals begin Thursday, November 16th. Repertoire and rehearsal resources can be accessed here.

Music for Children & Youth

Music education is a valued part of First Church's Christian education program. All children in our Sunday School, Disciple Road, experience music on a recurring basis, and participate in our annual Christmas Pageant. All elementary-age children are encouraged to participate in Children's Choir, which rehearses from 9:15 to 10:00 each Sunday during the school year.

Youth in Middle and High Road are encouraged to get involved with our Music Ministry.

For more information please contact

Bethany Dupuis, Children's Music Leader

The Bell Choir, which began in 1969, rings in worship six times a year, and rehearses every other Thursday from September-June, with our first Fall 2023 rehearsal on Thursday, Sept. 7, from 5:45-7:15 PM in the Music & Meeting Room.

Handbell Choir is open to anyone in sixth grade or up, and is a uniquely accessible way of making music! Anyone who can read words or count to four can begin making satifsying music in about five minutes! Those who read music can engage in more complex endeavors.

For more information, please contact Dr. Frank Martignetti, Director of Music & Organist.

Sunday, Oct. 29th at 4:00 PM The Greater Bridgeport AGO presents the 22nd Annual Pipescreams.

Learn more about Pipescreams here.

Sunday, Nov., 19, at 3:30 PM

Richard Weidlich, baritone

Kenneth Gartman, piano

Come enjoy a program of art songs from composers including Vaughan Williams, Debussy and Mahler, as well as hits of Broadway from Les Miserables, Carousel, and The Secret Garden, among others. For more information on the artists, click here.

Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at 4:00 PM

The West End String Quartet

The West End String Quartet came together in 2005 because of their shared passion for chamber music. Since then, WESQ has been entertaining audiences across New England with an exciting and varied repertoire of chamber music. The quartet leads the chamber music program at Wesleyan University, and presents a series of chamber music masterclasses at The Hartt School Community Division. Members of the quartet teach individually at a variety of institutions and perform in the Hartford, Springfield, New Haven, Vermont, Eastern Connecticut and Waterbury Symphony Orchestras. For more information on the artists, click here.

Lenten Organ Recital Series

Wednesdays, 12:15-12:45
Feb. 21: Alan Murchie, St. James, West Hartford
Feb. 28: Ilana Ofgang & Friends, Trumbull Cong.
Mar. 6: Alex Hodgkinson: St. Theresa, Trumbull
Mar. 13: James Jeffery: Christ Church, Rochester, NY
Mar. 20: Frank Martignetti, First Church, Fairfield

Sunday, June 2, 2024, 4:00 PM

The Fairfield County Children’s Choir

The Fairfield County Children's Choir (FCCC) is a community-based choral program made up of over three hundred children in grades four through twelve from communities in Connecticut's Fairfield County and beyond. The FCCC was founded in 1995 to provide children the opportunity to participate in a musical experience which is challenging, rewarding and enjoyable. The FCCC has performed at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Tanglewood, Madison Square Garden, West Point, and in New Orleans, San Francisco, Hawaii, Colorado, Arizona, Canada, England, Ireland, Austria and the Czech Republic. The group has shared the stage with such artists as Renee Fleming, Charles Strouse, Stephen Schwartz, Augusta Read Thomas, Sam Waterston and Christopher Plummer.

To inquire about renting our sanctuary for a performance, please email Frank Martignetti.