Music Ministry (Director - Shawn Gingrich)

Join in Singing Praises to God at First UMC, Hershey

Worship is the focus of musical life at First UMC, Hershey. Our congregation sings hymns and songs from a wide variety of traditions and backgrounds. Instruments used to support our singing include the pipe organ, piano, keyboard, guitars, drums and more. 

Opportunities to participate in a singing choir are available for all ages. Nine choirs involving over 230 children, youth and adults enrich our worship. 

Other instrumentalists are invited to help lead worship by providing special musical selections as well as by supporting the congregational song. In the summer months all are invited to share their gifts in providing special music for worship. Highlights include the singing of our Vacation Bible School children and our Summer Worship Choir which rehearses prior to worship each week.

Our Music Leadership Is Provided By:

  • Shawn Gingrich - Director of Music Ministry 

  • Sarah Curry - Director of Cherub Choir 

  • Ron Louder - Co-Director of Youth Handbell Choir

Children's Choirs
Children who will be entering K to 5th grade are eligible.

  • Cherub Choir (Kindergarten-fifth Grade): Sundays 9:15 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
    Children are given an introduction to group singing and worship. This group will sing for 9:30 worship occasionally. Directors: Sarah and Nick Curry       
  • Chapel Choir (Third-Fifth Grades): Wednesdays 4-4:45 p.m.
    The Chapel Choir learns rudimentary music reading and simple part singing. This choir sings for worship once each month. Resumes August 31, 2011.
  • Children's Handbell Choir (Third-Fifth Grades): Wednesdays 4:45-5:30 p.m. Resumes August 31, 2011.

New opportunities:
Creative Worship Arts Team for youth on September 18th at 5:00 pm
Chime Ringers on Tuesdays beginning September 20th at 11:00 a.m.

Youth Choirs

  • Youth Handbell Choir (Sixth-Twelfth Grades): Sundays, 4:15-5:00 p.m.
    The youth play music that employs the five-octave set and the three-octave set of Malmark handbells and the five octaves of Malmark HandChimes. Resumes September 18, 2011.
  • Creative Worship Arts Team for youth: Begins September 18, 2011 5:00 p.m.

Adult Choirs

  • Praise Team: Thursdays 7-9:30 p.m.
    The Praise Team is a Band for adults that plays and sings contemporary Christian music and leads our 9:30 a.m. celebration worship service.
  • Trinity Choir: Alternate Thursdays 6:30-7:30 p.m.
    The Trinity Choir is a choir for adults that sings for our 8 a.m. traditional worship service twice each month. Resumes September 1, 2011.
  • Adult Handbell Choir: Wednesdays 6:15-7:30 p.m.
    This group play music that employs the five-octave set of Malmark handbells and the five octaves of Malmark Hand Chimes.
  • Chime Ringers: Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m. Resumes September 20, 2011.
  • Sanctuary Choir: Wednesdays 7:30-9 p.m.
    The Sanctuary Choir is a choir for adults that sings for our 11:00 a.m. traditional worship service every Sunday as well as other special worship services.

Sacred Concert Series 2011-2012

All concerts are free and open to the public. A free-will offering will be received at the door.
October 9, 2011, 4 p.m.
 Dudley Oakes

Dr. Oakes is vice president of Orgues Létourneau Limitée and also serves as organist at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. He holds the DMA in organ performance from the University of Michigan.




November 27, 2011,  3 p.m.
Gwendolyn Bowers

Gwendolyn Bowers, Mezzo-soprano, in a recital entitled “ReignSong” with narrator, violinist and dancer. ReignSong is the vision of Gwendolyn Bowers. It is comprised of a consortium of artists. Its mission is to uplift the hearts of its audiences. Gwendolyn believes that artistic expressions are a reflection of the Divine Creator. Other artists featured will be dancer Danielle Smith Guillermo; violinist Sharon Jones; narrator Yolonda Carey; and accompanist Shawn Gingrich.

March 18, 2012, 3 p.m.
The Chenaults

Elizabeth and Raymond Chenault's frequent performances throughout the United States and Europe, their best-selling recordings, and sizable contribution to the organ duet literature through their commissions have made "organ four hands, four feet" virtually synonymous with "the Chenaults." This concert will be sure to please all who attend.

April 29, 2012,  3 p.m.
Hershey Handbell Ensemble

 This ensemble was formed to fulfill the need for an auditioned community ensemble comprised of persons able to play advanced literature, interested in advancing the art of handbell ringing through education and performance, and interested in uniting people through this musical art. The concert will include original works and arrangements of classical music and hymns for handbells as well as selections for handbells with organ. Shawn Gingrich is Artistic Director.

March 9, 2012, 7 p.m.
Concert Handbell Ringers from the Wheeler School in Providence, Rhode Island

For more than three decades this highly acclaimed handbell choir has performed opening concerts for regional and national handbell festivals, churches, school and civic organizations, and is widely regarded as New England’s premier high school handbell ensemble. Annual tours take the ensemble throughout the United States and Canada, and most recently to Bermuda in March 2011. The ringers generally perform 15-20 concerts annually on six octaves of Malmark handbells and five octaves (plus the lower seventh) of Malmark Choirchimes®. The Concert Ringers are directed by Daniel K. Moore, who for thirty-four years has been a member of the Performing Arts Faculty at the Wheeler School. During his tenure he has developed a graded handbell curriculum beginning in grade three, culminating with these performers, an auditioned six octave high school ensemble.

The free concert is cosponsored by the Hershey Handbell Ensemble and is open to the public.

Sounds of Bronze

Sounds of Bronze is a live recording from the Church Handbell Concert on April 17, 2005 by the Children's Handbell Choir, Praise Ringers, Exaltation Ringers, Adoration Ringers, Adult Handbell Choir and Hershey Handbell Ensemble under the direction of Donna Brown, Will Curry and Shawn Gingrich. Titles include: Processional Jubilee (Page); My Lord, What a Morning (arr. Thompson); A Gentle Chorale (Burroughs); Peace Like a River (arr. Eithun); Awesome God (arr. Bettcher); Shout to the Lord (arr. Bettcher); Thy Word (arr. Bettcher); How Majestic is Your Name (arr. Cota); Joshua (Hascall); Come Christians, Join to Sing (Hymn); Lamb of God (arr. Waldrop); Walk in the Light (Buckwalter); Siyahamba (arr. Ward); Dorian Dance (Joy); Serenity (Smith); and Elite Syncopations (Joplin / arr. Gingrich). Fill out the order form and return it with your payment ($9 each).


Join us March 9, 2012 at 7 p.m. for the Concert Handbell Ringers from the Wheeler School in Providence, Rhode Island.

The next concert in the 2011-2012 Sacred Concert Series is The Chenaults on March 18, 2012.

Inkjet Cartridge Recycling Program provides funds to the handbell fund to purchase new equipment. There is a collection box in the narthex. Most major brand cartridges are accepted.

“Moo Money” Needed for Organ Fund - Products like milk with the special “Moo money” sticker on the lid are sold only at Turkey Hill Mini Markets. A box is located on the counter beside the Welcome Center.

Music Ministry Opportunity for Children & Youth – Any piano or instrumental student wishing to play a sacred or classical selection appropriate for Worship, please contact Shawn Gingrich at 533-9668.

Sounds of Bronze Form

Handbell Fund Established – A number of special gifts have been given to purchase treble bells. Anyone wishing to give a bell as a memorial, contact Shawn Gingrich at 533-9668. Costs range from $215 for treble bells to $2,200 for bass bells.