Westminster Presbyterian Church: Music & the Arts

We believe that worship of God is central to life and that the music we sing, as an expression of our faith, is both a gift from God and an offering to God. Through our disciplined commitment and dedication to excellence, we will share this gift with our congregation, as a contribution to corporate worship, in order to reinforce and heighten the meaning of Scripture and the spoken word.
—from the mission statement of the Westminster Choir

For Adults
The Westminster Choir rehearses Wednesday evenings, 6:30 - 8:30pm and sings every Sunday in worship. This choir sings the great sacred repertoire from all musical periods and enjoys the musical development, social outlet, and spiritual growth of their time together. Reading skills and previous musical experience are helpful.

The Global Music Choir
The world of song is as broad as the world of our faith! With the Global Music Choir, Westminster will explore an immense landscape of sacred music from all over the world. The group practices every other week and joins in Sunday worship once each month. All are invited to participate, regardless of age or experience. This group is for anyone who wants to add a new adventure to their musical quest! Contact Melanie Ohnstad or Jere Lantz for more information.

For Children and Youth
Westminster's program involves children ages three to seventeen. The children's music program runs in tandem with education to nurture a lifelong desire to participate in worship and a faith community. Through the choir experience children learn commitment, attachment, the content of the creeds and the fun of singing. The choirs give children a garden in which to grow and successfully express their praise. Being in choir pulls a young person into the immediacy of the worship situation and gives her/him an active role in that drama. Development of musical skills contributes to self-esteem and a fuller life experience.

Handbells
Led by Nancy Carter, Westminster members and friends of all ages now have an opportunity to experience music through the playing of handbells and choirchimes. This includes an adult program centered around music appropriate for inclusion in the worship services, an introductory handbell and choirchime program for children and youth, and outreach opportunities for our neighbors here in the community.

Choir Rehearsal Schedules

Cherub Choir: (3-year-olds to kindergarten)	Wednesdays 6:00 - 6:30pm
Adult Choir	Wednesdays 6:30 - 8:30pm
Seraphim Choir: (grades 1-3)	Wednesdays 6:30 - 7:15pm
Choristers Choir: (grades 4-5)	Wednesdays 6:30 - 7:15pm
Youth Handbells	Wednesdays 6:30 - 7:15pm
Youth Choir: (grades 6 to 8)	Wednesdays 7:15 - 8:00pm
Senior High Choir: (grades 9 to 12)	Wednesdays 8:00 - 8:30pm

Music Staff
Music is an integral part of worship at Westminster. It is through a rich worship experience, filled with diverse artistic expression, that we sustain ourselves as individuals and as a congregation. Our music program is poised to expand the opportunities for even greater congregational participation and growth in music and the arts.
We invite you to join our choirs. We welcome bell ringers and instrumentalists to join our ensembles. There is joy to be shared!
Email the music department or call them at 612.332.3421 for more information on all choir opportunities at Westminster. Scroll down on this page to "meet" our music staff.

Music Staff

Melanie Ohnstad
Minister of Music & the Arts/Organist
Email Melanie

Melanie has served Westminster as organist since November 1995. In addition to her position as organist, she also serves as Minister of Music and the Arts. Melanie received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Minnesota in June 1999. She earned the Master of Music in Organ Performance from Arizona State University and the Bachelor of Music from St. Olaf College. Prior to coming to Westminster, Melanie was the Assistant Organist at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Minneapolis. While there she made three compact discs with the Cathedral Choir. Melanie has also served Trinity Cathedral, Phoenix as Organist-Choirmaster and St. Stephen Lutheran, Wausau, as Director of Music and Youth. Her current area of interest is integrating theology and the arts. Her assistant is Barbara Prince

Jere Lantz
Director of Westminster Choir
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Jere Lantz is the Director of the Westminster Choir. He holds masters and doctorate degrees from Yale in conducting. For twenty years he has been the Music Director of the Rochester Orchestra and Chorale. In addition, he directs the Minnetonka Choral Society and serenades Lake Harriet audiences on weekend evenings each summer directing the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra. He has conducted most of Minnesota’s major choruses, including the Minnesota Chorale, Bach Society, Minnesota Center Chorale, Oratorio Society, Winona Symphonic Choir and Soul Liberation Choir. In 1996, he served four months as Interim Director of Music at St. Mark’s Cathedral. Jere has been active in the community serving as an advisory panelist for the Minnesota State Arts Board, as a board member of the American Composers Forum and on the Citizens’ Advisory Committee of Minnesota Public Radio. His assistant is Barbara Prince

Nancy Carter
Director of Westminster Handbell Choirs
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Nancy is responsible for forming and maintaining a Handbell program that enables members of all ages to experience music through handbells and choirchimes. Prior to her work here, she served as director of other handbell programs and children’s music programs, as well as participating in choirs and small ensembles. Nancy has a bachelor’s degree from the College of Saint Catherine. She and husband Jim have been married 35 years and have two children who grew up at Westminster.

Brad Ollmann
Director of Early Childhood Music
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Brad is currently in his eighth year teaching music at Saint Anthony Park Elementary (Saint Paul Public Schools). He completed a Bachelor of Music Education degree at the University of Minnesota in 1999 and a Master of Music Education from the University of Saint Thomas in 2006, where he completed a thesis that examined young children's ability to sing in tune. Brad has a strong interest in cultivating children's love for music through singing and movement activities.