Music at Lakeside

Sunday by Sunday several hundred people gather in our beautiful sanctuary for worship. We are different people with varied backgrounds, interest and concerns. We gather as individuals, couples and families; yet when the first hymn begins we rise together and sing as one body of believers. The music of the faith brings us together and unites us as one body. We sing not for each other, but to God.  We sing to voice our faith and praise our Creator. The music of worship reveals the presence of God among us.

Music has always had an important place in the lives and worship of the people of God. “Faith is meant to be sung” declares hymnist Jane Parker Huber (Rev. Ed Hird, “Catharsis of Love”, Deep Cove Crier: Nov. 1993 ) and so it has been since people first gathered as a worshiping community. First and foremost, music aids us in our praise of God which is, of course, our primary purpose in life. Our hymns and anthems offer us fresh and affirming ways to understand God and our relationships with one another.

Through his gifted direction, Jerry Jolley draws music from our choirs that is nothing but inspired. Mark Gansor makes the organ produce melodious notes, which touch the many moods we bring to worship and turns them into offerings to God. Our adult and youth Bell Choirs provide us with music that transforms complexity into simple purity. Each of our Children's and Youth Choirs remind us of the freshness of the Gospel and the new ways in which God's love can and must be proclaimed. Our Chancel Choir, whether as full choir, ensembles or soloists, guides our worship and molds our celebrations with passion and sensitivity.

       Jerry Jolley, our Music Minister, is a graduate of Mars Hill College and the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.  He has a master's degree in church music and over fifty years of church music experience.  He came to Lakeside in April 1989.

    Mark Gansor, organist, completed his undergraduate work at Duquesne University and earned a master's degree in music from East Carolina University.  He has over thirty-five years of church music experience and has been at Lakeside since January 1989.
                   
      In 1995, when the church's facilities underwent major renovation, a new music suite for choir and handbells was constructed.  On September 23, 2007, it was dedicated as the “Barbara Bone Biggs Music Suite” in honor of Barbara Biggs who had served in our music program in a variety of capacities for over fifty years.  Mrs. Biggs died in 2006.

Thanks be to God for musicians and music and the grace of song!


The CHANCEL CHOIR  is composed of approximately thirty adults.  Music at Lakeside is a diverse presentation of different styles of church music; however, the literature is basically traditional. By Baptist standards, our worship service would be characterized as formal.  The clergy and choir are robed.  The choir processes.  At Christmas and Easter and at some other times during the year, the choir is joined by musicians from the North Carolina Symphony, as well as by outstanding individual vocal and orchestral musicians from across the state.

The YOUTH CHOIR was re-formed in 2000 for youth in grades 6 through 12. The choir performs throughout the year during the morning worship service as well as at other special services. On occasion they join the Chancel Choir in the singing of an anthem. In the spring, they participate in the CBF State Youth Choir. Rehearsals are held on Sunday evenings at 5:00 p.m. in the Barbara Biggs Music Suite during the school year. No practice is held during the summer months. The choir is under the direction of Jerry Jolley, Music Minister, and accompanied by volunteers.

The CHILDREN'S CHOIR was formed so that children from kindergarten through the 5th grade would begin early on to learn church music and participate in worship. They bring joy and delight with their “angelic” voices and smiles. On occasion they perform for Sunday night fellowship suppers. Children's music is viewed as part of the church's Christian education program. They rehearse during the school year at 6:15 p.m. in the Barbara Biggs Music Suite. Carol Lucas, Music Assistant, and volunteers lead this choir.

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The ADULT HANDBELL CHOIR is composed of approximately 15 members . This choir has five octaves of handbells and three octaves of hand chimes. They perform throughout the year during the morning worship service, as well as for Sunday night fellowship suppers. On occasion, some of the bells are used in conjunction with the organ. From September through May this group of musicians practices on Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. in the Bell Choir Room under the direction of Jerry Jolley, Music Minister.

The YOUTH HANDBELL CHOIR is offered occasionally for youth in grades 6 through 12. They perform during the year in morning worship. Some of the youth participate in the Hand Chime Choir. Rehearsals are held on Sunday evenings during the school year at 5:00 p.m. Volunteers often direct this choir.

THE LAKESIDE PIPE ORGAN is a treasured gift to our congregation. The original pipe organ was installed in 1971 by Casavant Frères Limited of St. Hyacinthe, Quebec (Canada) and enhanced in 1984 with the addition of the  Trompettes-en- chamade.  In 1996 the organ was re-voiced and made more versatile by increasing the capacity of the musical combinations.  The keyboards and chimes were refurbished in 2003.  It was sold to the Christ the King Lutheran Church in Richmond, Virginia in 2008 during the renovation of the sanctuary.  In early 2009, a new Casavant Frères pipe organ was installed which includes thirty-three ranks and an antiphonal organ.  This organ was a gift to the church by Ted Gossett, Billie and Don Stallings, and June and Hugh Shearin.

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