Worship Service Music at RHUMC
[Music at RHUMC] [Upcoming Concerts at RHUMC] [Recent Concerts at RHUMC]
Under the direction of Director of Music Charles "Chuck" Dickerson, RHUMC offers Sunday morning music provided by the 4-part SATB Chancel Choir, accompanied by organist/pianist Ms. Althea Waites, and Sunday evening music provided by the 5-member Third Service Ensemble led by Ms. Patti MacLeod; in addition, RHUMC hosts community concerts, such as its Second Sundays at 2pm Series, and offers both Christmas and Holy Week concerts of classical works for SATB choir and orchestra.
Director of Music Charles "Chuck" Dickerson
Music is an important part of Rolling Hills United Methodist Church, and the church is exceptionally
fortunate to have a superb musical staff, choirs, and volunteers. The Chancel Choir, under Director of Music
Charles "Chuck" Dickerson, sings at both morning services. Chuck, himself, is renowned as a tenor and was
chosen in the summer of 2007 to sing the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium on Methodists' Night.
In addition to being Director of Music at RHUMC, Chuck is Music Director and Conductor of the
Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles
, a member of El Sistema USA. The Chorus of the Inner City Youth Orchestra will be participating in the
Mahler Project, a performance
at the Shrine Auditorium on February 4, 2012, of the Mahler 8th "Symphony of a Thousand" conducted by Gustavo Dudamel
with Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela.
In previous years, Chuck has served as conductor to the Southeast Symphony, which under his leadership performed twice at
the Disney Concert Hall.
Organist and Concert Pianist Althea Waites
Organist and concert pianist Althea Waites, Professor of Piano at California State University, Long Beach,
performs the morning service's Preludes and Postludes, and accompanies the choirs, soloists, hymns, and
vocal ensembles, among her numerous other musical contributions. In addition to her acclaimed classical
piano CDs on the Cambria label, Althea was the featured piano soloist at the Southeast Symphony's 60th
anniversary celebration in Walt Disney Concert Hall. Read about Althea at her website:
www.AltheaWaites.com.
Third Service Ensemble Director Patti MacLeod
Patti has been directing and performing with the 3rd Service Music Ensemble for the past 5 years, and
prior to that, she had been active in RHUMC music with the Women of Grace ensemble, Chancel Choir, and summer music for children.
She received her Bachelor's degree from Texas Woman's University, majoring in voice and piano.
Following college, she performed in musical theater summer stock, travelled on the road with a rock
band, and played piano and sang in major hotels throughout the country. After moving to the Los Angeles area in 1979,
she obtained a California Teaching Credential and
began teaching music in Torrance, directing both elementary and high school choirs. A certified
Orff-Schulwerk specialist, she used the Orff method in her elementary music classes.
Third Service Ensemble
The casual "3rd Service Ensemble," on Sundays at 5:30 p.m., offers music in a variety of contemporary styles including blues, country, gospel, folk, pop, and Jazz.
3rd Service Ensemble
Top row: Michael Starr, Patti MacLeod, Jot Hollenbeck
Bottom row: Julie Greer, Paula Fong, Jack Sollecito
Chancel Choir at Sunday Morning Services
The musical offerings at the morning services include the Chancel Choir and soloists drawn from the Chancel Choir and the community.
Chancel Choir
Youth and Children's Choirs
The enthusiasm of the Youth and Children's Choirs are a welcome addition to the services.
Youth Choir
Children's Choir
We Keep It Fresh
We Keep It Fresh" came about a year or so after HeavenSent, when a couple of high-school boys felt
they should have a group too. Since there were only those two boys and maybe one other, it seemed that a co-ed group was a good solution
to meet the singing needs of those young men. "We Keep it Fresh" is open to all junior- and senior-high teenagers. There is no requirement
other than loving music. They sing 3 to 4 times a year.
Heaven Sent
"HeavenSent" is a vocal ensemble of high-school-aged girls. The ensemble ranges
from a quartet to 10 girls at any given time. To be a member, one must be able to sing
on pitch, as their angelic sound is one of the hallmarks that makes them so well loved.
HeavenSent sings 3 to 4 times a year.
Both youth ensembles are under the direction of Julie Greer with major assistance from Thyra Endicott.
Read more about distinguished musical staff at Rolling Hills United Methodist Church by clicking here.