Category Archives: Sacred Reading Sessions

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Sign Up For Pender’s Virtual Church Choral Sessions

Coming July 1, 2020

This year, Joy of Worship is coming to you! In addition to the choral sessions, we will also provide on-demand break-out sessions featuring a variety of topics exclusively through Pender’s during the month of July!

Registration will be required to view at no charge. Complete your free registration here. After completing your free registration order, you will receive an email from Pender’s Music Co. with an access code, good for all sessions.

O FOR A DOZEN TONGUES TO SING
Music for Smaller Choirs
Join Joseph Martin and friends for a look at new music crafted especially for the smaller choir. This session will feature selections that will be useful throughout the entire church year.

SEASONS OF PRAISE
Music for Advent and Christmas
Journey through December with Joseph Martin and friends as we look at new anthems for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. From traditional carols to fresh new sounds of the season, there’s something here for everyone!

SING A NEW SONG
Music for Blended and Contemporary Worship
Designed for the traditional/transitional and contemporary choir, this session will showcase music from some of today’s prominent worship leaders and Christian artists. Joseph Martin and friends will take you through these uplifting songs that will work all year long.

REJOICE, GIVE THANKS AND SING
Music for Thanksgiving and General Worship
Join Joseph Martin and friends as they lead you through new selections for General Worship. From joyous anthems of praise and thanksgiving, to reflective songs of healing and hope, this session is full of meaningful music, perfect for any Sunday.

WORSHIP SONGS JUNIOR
Music for Younger and Older Elementary Choirs
Discover outstanding new music for younger and older elementary choirs with Jeff Reeves and Joseph Martin. This session features both general and seasonal music for the entire church year. Songs, both familiar and new, promise to nurture the musical and spiritual growth of your singers to last a lifetime!

Spring Sacred Choral Music

PENDER’S PICKS THE BEST NEW SPRING AND EASTER SACRED CHORAL MUSIC 

The Pender’s staff has sifted through thousands of titles to identify the very best new spring sacred choral music for 2020. We want to provide outstanding music for your choirs, and we believe these selections are some of the finest.

Below you will find information about why we selected each title, and a few suggestions about possible uses for the piece. As with all of our previous Sacred Choral Reading Sessions, we have narrowed the list to our opinion of the very best. Of course opinions differ, and if you find that all of the pieces of interest to you are from a single publisher, you can search for that publisher on our website and get more ideas! If a piece has your attention, you will probably listen all the way to the end. Just like at any reading session, you may have it marked with a “no” within the first 32 measures. The nice thing here is you don’t have to sing it all the way through. You can stop and go on to the next piece. 

You will find an assortment of general, Lent, and Easter titles that were picked with our customers in mind. To those new to us, we welcome you and hope our selections are good for your choirs too. Be looking for information on our website about our “live” Sacred Choral Reading Sessions in Oklahoma City and Denton this summer. We hope you will attend!

Questions? Contact John Staton at 405-842-7825 or jstaton@penders.com

Angel Rolled the Stone Away
SATB – Shackley – 10/5394L
This is an infectious toe-tapper for the Sunday after Easter. The problem will be getting the choir to wait that long to sing it.  

Christ Lives and So We’re Free
SATB – Wagner – 00-48009
Excellent Easter anthem with great part writing on the Alleluias. Uses a minimum of handbells to enhance the sound. Easy to put together.

Deep Within
SATB – Hayes – C6262
Very singable Mark Hayes arrangement of this contemporary classic hymn from the 80’s. Really nice solo that interchanges with the choral parts.

Easter Celebration
SATB – Cameron – C6271 
This upbeat Easter introit will combine all your resources. Use it as a short introit or insert your own repeat signs for more verses and have an opening hymn.

Garden of Sorrow
SATB – Wright – 810038
Good Friday. This piece effectively travels between g minor and Bb Major to depict sorrow of the crucifixion and the hope for the future.

Gloryland By and By
SATB – McDonald – 00-48006
This arrangement of two beloved old hymns works its way into a real toe-tapper in true Mary McDonald style. Great for gospel Sundays.

God Gives the Song
SATB – Courtney – BP2211
This song is so beautiful I nearly missed the text. A wonderful song of healing for meditative times.

God of the Sparrow
SATB – Courtney – BP2208
Take a deep breath for long phrases and beautiful Alleluias.

Grace at the Cross
SATB –McKibben –10/5387L
This original tune will be ringing in your head. Lyrics are closely related to the easily sung syncopated rhythms. There is a good bit of unison. Harmony parts flow easily from the unison parts making this a quick rehearsal anthem.

Great is Thy Faithfulness
SATB – Forrest – BP2210
It is always a toss-up whether to feature a new arrangement of a hymn that has been arranged many times. This one is too good to miss. It is not the easiest of pieces but there are wonderful surprises on every page.

He’s Got the Whole World
SATB – McDonald – 00-48007
Wow!! The simplicity of this arrangement! Sensitive treatment of the text. Not what you usually expect. Simple part writing with a lot of unison. Quick study. Gorgeous accompaniment.

Hosanna to the King Who Comes
SATB w/ children – Larson – 10/5444L
I like this piece for Palm Sunday because it has a catchy tune with just enough twists to make it interesting. The choir and children’s parts are easily learned which makes it a quick study during the busy Easter season.

How Wonderful You Are
SATB – Mock/Shackley – 10/5396
The chorus soars with “holies.” Excellent part writing. Very singable. General use.

Hymn of Promise
SATB – McDonald – C6265
Using “Sally Gardens” for the melody, Mary McDonald has set this classic Natalie Sleeth text beautifully with highs and lows that highlight the text.

I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
SATB – Shackley – 10/5388L
Very useful for Lent.

I Want Jesus to Walk with Me
SATB – Raney – C6259
The title hymn and “Footsteps of Jesus” are joined seamlessly into one anthem.

Inasmuch
SATB – Choplin – 10/5399L
This piece has all of the singable writing you expect from Pepper Choplin. If you have a contemporary ensemble available this one would be great to add at least the drummer. A good drummer can make this piece shine.

Jesus Is Alive! Alleluia!
SATB – Shackley – 10/5389L
This is a simple and rhythmic telling of the Easter story. The beauty is it does not quote any of the traditional Easter hymns giving you a totally original anthem to sing on Easter Sunday. It would be great at both the beginning of the service or in the anthem position.

Jesus Is Risen
SATB w children – Koerts – 810034
This Easter anthem includes easy parts for children, original material, a statement from a standard Easter hymn, and optional congregation. Easy to learn.

Let Your Spirit Rise
SATB – Pethel – 10/5390L 
This is an invitation for the spirit to come. It has beautiful harmony, lyrical melody lines, and is very meditative. This piece will be useful at Pentecost but will also find its way into many other services when appropriate mediation is needed.

May the Peace of God Dwell in You
SATB – Larson – 10/5398L
Useful for graduation, dedication, retirements, and farewell services.

Mercy’s Promise
SATB – Drennan – 10/5391L
The part writing is the shining star of this anthem.  Your choir will sound wonderful as they blend together.  Wonderful for Palm/Passion services and Holy Week.

Name of All Majesty
SATB – Raney – C6270
Excellent for the weeks after Easter. “He Is Lord” is beautifully arranged at the end.

On a Hill Far Away
SATB – Martin – 10/5427L
This haunting original melody by Joseph Martin does great justice to text we know so well. Quiet and simple. Useful for Holy Week – especially a Palm/Passion service.

Prayer at Gethsemane
SATB – Raney – C6280 
A “quick study” with a minimum of parts to rehearse but lots of the mood needed for Holy Week.

Rise Up My Soul
SATB – Larson – 00-48603 
Not just another 6/8 anthem of joy. There are rhythmic and harmonic surprises that make this piece shine.

Risen Indeed!
SATB – Pote – C6272 
A lively, rhythmic original anthem for Easter. Easy to put together.

Rock on Whom We Stand
SATB – Berry – 10/5392L
You can always depend on Cindy Berry to be direct and to the point with the message of her anthems, thus leaving a lasting impression on the congregation. This is a great text of celebration.

Salvation Is Our God’s
SATB – Parks – 10/5424L
If you omit the reading from Revelations and start the introduction later, you have a wonderful Palm Sunday anthem that builds as the procession gets nearer.

Shepherd Song
SATB – Bolin – 810035
Such a peaceful piece. The flute part is easy and in a good key in case you have a younger flute player.

Sing Community, Sing Peace
SATB – Hayes – 10/5397L
This is Mark Hayes’ original writing at its best. Beautiful. Written for an ecumenical service. Great for any time love and community is the theme.

Someone’s Walkin’
SATB – Drennan – 10/5393L
A cappella. Very singable. Great part for the basses. Useful for Good Friday or Holy Week.

Still I’ll Rejoice
SATB – Choplin – BP2172 
Beautiful choral sounds and the combining of text and musical elements you have come to expect from Pepper Choplin.

These Forty Days
SATB – Dengler – 810039  
In this piece you get an anthem for the first Sunday of Lent and a chorus that can call your congregation to Lenten worship all the other Sundays of Lent.

Upon This Altar
SATB – Drennan – 00-48602  
Perfect for communion during Holy Week or anytime. Beautiful melodies.

We’ll Join the Everlasting Song
SATB – Larson – BP2216  
Very singable. I’m not sure what the hurry is but I would slow it down a little bit.

Why Do You Seek the Living Among the Dead?
SATB – Choplin – 10/5454L  
What a great way to start an Easter Sunday service moving from hushed anticipation to rejoicing Alleluias. Excellent rhythmic use of the text.

With Every Breath
SATB – Hayes – 10/5407L
The composer was not listed on my original copy. The opening riff made me think it might be a new arrangement of a contemporary hit. The voice lines were so singable and the rhythms fit the words so well. Then, I found out it was a Mark Hayes original. Gather your contemporary forces and give your choir and congregation a fun time.

With Waving Palms and Shouts of Praise
SATB w/ children – Christopher 810041 
Easy anthem for Palm Sunday with an interesting part for the children and an easy bell part.

Wondrous Love
SAB – Cameron – C6282  
With a brief introduction using the well-known hymn tune this original will be a great change to your Lenten pieces.

Pender’s Choral Workshops

Every year, Pender’s hosts multiple choral workshops with top clinicians in the nation. These workshops are intended to educate and inspire, spotlighting new music and activities for choirs of all ages. View our upcoming workshops below!

Pender’s Sing-a-bration

Thursday, July 11 – Saturday, July 13, 2019 in Denton, TX

Join us for three days of inspiring and educational choral workshops, including The Joy of Singing and The Joy of Worship. Learn from some of the top clinicians in the nation!

Sing-a-bration includes The Joy of Singing workshops for elementary, middle, and high school choirs and classrooms, as well as The Joy of Worship, which focuses on church chorals for adult choirs from traditional to contemporary.

Learn from top clinicians Greg Gilpin, Andy Beck, Victor Johnson, John Jacobson, Cristi Miller, Mac Huff, Kari Gilbertson, Jonathan Palant, Cheryl Lavender, Susan Brumfield, Pepper Choplin, Joseph Martin, and Heather Sorenson.

Learn more and register.


Summer Sacred Choral Reading Session

Saturday, June 15, 2019 in Oklahoma City, OK

Summer is the perfect time to plan your fall and holiday music! Clinician Pepper Choplin joins Pender’s to present new music, including Christmas cantatas. You may bring up to four members of your choir (for example, director plus three) to join in fellowship while learning new pieces for the year.

Learn more and register.


Pender's Summer Sacred Choral Reading Session with Pepper Choplin Banner

Summer Sacred Choral Reading Session in OKC

Saturday, June 15, 2019

Summer is the perfect time to plan your fall and holiday music! Clinician Pepper Choplin joins Pender’s to present new music, including Christmas cantatas. You may bring up to four members of your choir (for example, director plus three) to join in fellowship while learning new pieces for the year.

Date: Saturday, June 15th
Clinician: Pepper Choplin
Location: Quail Springs United Methodist Church
14617 N Pennsylvania
Oklahoma City, OK  73134
Cost: $20 per person (limited to 4 per organization)
Contact: John Staton jstaton@penders.com
(405) 842-7825
(800) 772-8405

Schedule:
8:30  Registration, Coffee and Donuts
9:00  Session Begins
10:30 Break, Refreshments
10:45 Session Continues
12:30 Session Over

Registration includes a complimentary music packet and morning refreshment.

Music on display for sale will include:
Choral Anthems
Children’s Books
Piano
Organ
Organ/Piano
Christmas Cantatas
Vocal Solos & Duets
Handbells

Sacred Choral Reading Session January 2019

Get ready for spring with Pender’s and clinician Patti Drennan!

Join us on Saturday, January 5, 2019, at Quail Springs United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City, OK. Hear the latest sacred choral music for spring and Easter, including choral anthems and Easter cantatas, and browse Pender’s music selection. We’ll be bringing along new piano and organ music, children’s books, vocal solos, duets, handbell music, and more! Enjoy morning refreshments, a complimentary music packet, and a wonderful day of community with up to four members of your congregation (director plus three). Register now!

Date: January 5, 2019
Location: Quail Springs United Methodist Church
14617 N Pennsylvania Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73134
Cost: $20.00 per person
Limit 4 per church (example: director plus 3)

Schedule:
8:30 Registration (coffee and donuts)
9:00 Session begins
10:45 Break (refreshments)
11:00 Session Continues
12:30 Session ends

To Register: Call John Staton at (800) 772-8405 or e-mail John at jstaton@penders.com

Why You Should Attend a Live Choral Reading Session

Did you ever order a piece for your choir and find out at the first rehearsal that it was much harder than it sounded? You didn’t know that the bass line had so many tricky spots to trip over. We have the solution for that. Attend one of our live reading sessions. You will hear the basses sitting behind you trip over that hard part. You will notice that one of the easiest pieces in the packet is breathtakingly beautiful – something you would have overlooked without a live performance and the collective “ahhh” after the last note. You will get a hint from the conductor/composer about how to use a piece in a way that gives it a whole new life. That person sitting next to you from another church might even share with you how they did something similar that worked well for their church. Then you have a new friend.

We believe there is no substitute for a live reading session. If for no other reason, it is a joy to make beautiful music for three hours with over a hundred fine singers. We think that once you attend one of our live reading sessions, you will not want to miss another. We hear this from past attendees all the time. Contact us if you have any questions.

John Staton
Choral Department
Pender’s Music Oklahoma City

OKC Summer Sacred Choral Reading Session

Saturday, June 30, 2018

This summer, get a head start on the holiday season —  select fall and Christmas choral music with clinician Mary McDonald at the OKC Summer Sacred Choral Reading Session!

Join Pender’s Music Co. as Mary McDonald introduces more than 40 new Christmas and General titles from various publishers, all perfect for church choirs! With the option to bring up to four members of your choir (for example, director plus three), this is an amazing opportunity to join in fellowship while learning new music for fall and the holidays.

Date: Saturday, June 30th
Clinician: Mary McDonald
Location: Quail Springs United Methodist Church
14617 N Pennsylvania
Oklahoma City, OK  73134
Cost: $20 per person (limited to 4 per organization)
Contact: John Staton jstaton@penders.com (405) 842-7825

Schedule:
8:30  Registration, Coffee and Donuts
9:00  Session Begins
10:30 Break, Refreshments
10:45 Session Continues
12:30 Session Over

Registration includes a complimentary music packet and morning refreshment.

Music on display for sale will include:
Choral Anthems
Children’s Books
Piano
Organ
Organ/Piano
Christmas Cantatas
Vocal Solos & Duets
Handbells

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Sacred Choral Reading Session

Sacred Choral Reading Session January 2018

To Register: Call  (800) 772-8405

Join Pender’s and clinician Pepper Choplin on January 6, 2018 for the Sacred Choral Reading Session! Hear new spring and Easter choral music including choral anthems, children’s books, piano, organ, Easter cantatas, vocal solos and duets, handbells, and more! Enjoy morning refreshments and a complimentary music packet, and participate with up to four members of your congregation (director plus three).

January 6, 2018

Grace United Methodist Church
6316 N Tulsa
Oklahoma City, OK 73112

Cost:
$10.00 per person
Limit 4 per church (example: director plus 3)

Schedule:
8:30 Registration (coffee and donuts)
9:00 Session begins
10:45 Break (refreshments)
11:00 Session Continues
12:30 Session ends

To Register: Call John Staton at (800) 772-8405 or e-mail John at jstaton@penders.com

Summer Sacred Choral Reading Session

Sacred Choral Reading Session Summer 2017

Anticipate the Changing Seasons with New Fall and Christmas Choral Music

Join us in fellowship as Pender’s Music Co. and Hal Leonard proudly present new fall and Christmas choral anthems from the purveyors of some of the finest sheet music available. Patti Drennan, one of our favorite clinicians, will conduct the session. Register now to participate, with up to four members of your congregation. Registration includes complimentary music packet of most music presented, and refreshments.


Church Choral Reading Session Summer 2017

Saturday, June 24, 2017
Quail Springs United Methodist Church

14617 N. Pennsylvania
Oklahoma City, OK 73134

Schedule:
8:30 Registration, Coffee and Donuts
9:00 Session Begins
10:30 Break, Refreshments
11:00 Session Continues
12:30 Session Over

Cost: $10 per person, includes music packet
Limit 4 per church (example: director plus 3)

TO REGISTER: Call John Staton at (405) 842-7825 or (800) 772-8405, or
e-mail John at jstaton@penders.com

Music on display for sale will include:
Choral anthems • Children’s books • Piano • Piano/organ • Organ • Christmas cantatas • Vocal solos and duets • Handbells

OKC Sacred Choral Reading Session January 2017

Sacred Choral Reading Session January 2017

To Register: Call  (800) 772-8405

Come join one of our favorite clinicians, Patti Drennan, for a Mixed-Publisher Reading Session. Pender’s Music Co. will present new Spring & Easter choral music from various publishers including Alfred, Beckenhorst, Hal Leonard, Hope, Lorenz, and Shawnee. Expand the fellowship by participating with up to four members of your congregation (example: director plus three). Registration includes complimentary music packet and morning refreshments.

Music on display will include: choral anthems, children’s books, piano, piano/organ, Easter cantatas, vocal solos & duets, organ, handbells.

January 7, 2017

Messiah Lutheran Church
3600 Northwest Expressway
Oklahoma City, OK 73112

Cost:
$10.00 per person
Limit 4 per church (example: director plus 3)

Schedule:
8:30 Registration (coffee and donuts)
9:00 Session begins
10:45 Break (refreshments)
11:00 Session Continues
12:30 Session ends

To Register: Call John Staton at (800) 772-8405 or e-mail John at jstaton@penders.com