Music is a defining characteristic of Southminster. Our worship services include opportunities for everyone to sing together and to enjoy music performed by our choir, handbell ensembles, and other talented musicians. From the first note to the last, our music is a joyful offering to God.
In keeping with our commitment to the arts, Southminster often hosts community concerts for the public and is home to The Kansas City Suzuki Institute a community of parents, students, and teachers dedicated to nurturing young people through the study of music (cello, violin, piano, and viola).
For more information about our music ministry, including how to participate in Southminster’s choir or handbell ensembles, please contact Director of Music, Joshua Hearn.
Music Ministry Staff
Joshua Hearn, Director of Music Ministry
Joshua Hearn began his church music ministry twenty-five years ago. As a native of central Illinois, he earned a Bachelor of Music degree with distinction in organ performance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His teachers at Illinois included Dana Robinson, DMA (organ) and Chester L. Alwes, DMA (choral literature and conducting). Joshua came to Kansas to pursue the Master of Church Music degree (organ) at the University of Kansas where his teachers included Michael Bauer, DMA (organ, choral conducting, and church music) and Kevin Vogt, DMA (church music and organ improvisation). He also holds the Associate Certification (AAGO) of the American Guild of Organists and is a member of the Lawrence Community Handbell Choir. When not on the bench, Joshua enjoys traveling and experiencing the many wonderful arts opportunities Kansas City has to offer.
Marilyn Lake, Director of Handbells
Marilyn Lake is the director of the Southminster Presbyterian Church Handbells, The Bells of Peace. In addition to her work as the Director of Handbells, Marilyn also directs the Heartland Ringers, a community handbell choir in the Kansas City area. Mrs. Lake is an elementary music educator in the Shawnee Mission School District and teaches private piano and preschool music.
Marilyn has degrees in Music Education and Music Therapy from the University of Kansas and a Masters in Music Education from Emporia State University. She is a member of the Handbell Musicians of America, Sigma Alpha Iota Music fraternity, The National Association for Music Education (MENC) and the Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA). She has been ringing bells for over forty years, and plays the piano, sings, and performs on the carillon. She and her husband have two adult children and 1 dog. In her spare time Marilyn enjoys KU basketball, quilting, kayaking, and geocaching.
Music Groups
The Southminster Choir
The Southminster Choir serves as worship leaders for The Service of the Lord’s Day at 11 a.m. on Sundays in the Sanctuary. The choir sings anthems from all periods and styles with a focus on choral development, technique, and general musicianship. Adults young and mature are welcome to sing with us.
Rehearsal: Wednesdays | 6:30-8:00 p.m. | Choir Room
Sunday Warm-Up: 10:15 a.m. | Sanctuary
Director:
Joshua Hearn
Bells of Peace
The Bells of Peace ring hymn-based and free-work pieces on our Malmark handbells and handchimes once per month for the Service of the Lord’s Day at 11 a.m. during the program year. Ringers learn basic and advanced bell techniques. Young and mature adults are welcome to ring with us.
Rehearsal: Mondays | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Fellowship Hall
Director: Marilyn Lake
ReBELLion
Southminster’s children and youth Handbell ensemble is comprised of 2nd through 6th grade students. They play hand chimes as well as sing, and sometimes do both together. This ensemble leads in worship several times throughout the year.
Rehearsal: Sundays | 9:00-9:30 a.m. | Sanctuary
Director: Marilyn Lake
Heartland Ringers
The Heartland Ringers are a community handbell choir consisting of members in the Kansas City area. Our mission is to enjoy fellowship through music and share our gifts and talents with the community. The Heartland Ringers are a member of Handbell Musicians of America.
Rehearsal: Thursdays | 7:00-8:30 p.m. | Fellowship Hall
Director: Marilyn Lake
Agape Ringers
Agape Ringers are a small community handbell choir and play three to four octave music. We provide music in the community at area assisted living locations and nursing homes as well as members’ churches that do not have bell choirs. We ring on both Schulmerich and Malmark handbells as well as Malmark chimes
Rehearsal: Wednesdays | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Fellowship Hall
Leaders: Kärin Forsburg
Hidden Old Content
Solo/Small Ensemble Opportunities
Solo and small ensembles are initiated throughout the year. Both choral and instrumental soloists and ensembles rehearse to provide a musical offering for worship or other events. For more information, please contact Joshua Hearn, Director of Music Ministry.
The Arts at Southminster
Southminster Church is delighted to share our space to the wider community for concerts and other arts events. We welcome groups and individuals to offer their talents as part of the music ministry of the congregation.
Tiny Chancel Concerts
These concerts began in the fall of 2020 as a virtual presentation of the musical talents of the Southminster congregation and community partners. These concerts are pre-recorded, are presented monthly, and are about thirty minutes in length. Past performances include our Pastors, Jeff Clayton and Karen Wright, vocalist Lucille Windsor, and pianist Nelson Randolph.
Music Camp
Music Camp was created by Marilyn Lake as a way to reach out to the community during the summer. Enlisting the help of other music educators at Southminster, Mrs. Lake worked with children, Kindergarten through 6th grade, to present a musical church production at the end of the week. Along with learning a musical, students also worked on recorders, world drumming, and other creative endeavors.
Community Concerts
We welcome our community friends to perform at Southminster. Performances by jazz pianist Joe Cartwright, members of the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra, the William Jewel Choir have been presented in our sanctuary. We also have been host for university music student recitals as well as studio recitals of various teachers in the metro area.
For more information please contact
Joshua Hearn,
Director of Music Ministry.
