Music and arts have been deeply intertwined with worship at First Baptist since our earliest days. Dynamic choral music, handbells, and robust congregational singing have become the backbone of our musical worship over the past century with as many as six choirs undergirded by one of New England’s foremost pipe organs. In worship, the Chancel Choir, Choral Scholars, and First Handbells are augmented with the individual talents of our membership, from solo instruments and voices to poetry, photography and more.

Beyond Sunday services, we also have special musical services like All Souls, Lessons and Carols (a Candle-lit Choral Evensong based on the Celebration of Lessons and Carols from King’s College, Cambridge, England), Handbell Extravaganza, and more throughout the year. Our love and appreciation of music and the arts expands beyond worship to encompass our community life. During the year First Baptist partners with local arts organizations like the American Guild of Organists, VOX New England, and WPI to present a variety of music and arts events on our church grounds including organ recitals, choral performances, art exhibitions, and drama. We also provide musical education to young people in our community through private instruction.

Salisbury Singers is a mixed chorus of more than 60 singers under the insightful leadership of Artistic Director Reagan Paras. The chorus is dedicated to the enhancement of cultural life in Worcester and central Massachusetts, as well as the musical growth of its members. Salisbury Singers achieves these objectives through professional quality performances of acapella and accompanied choral repertoire drawn from diverse traditions and styles.

Salisbury Singers , Inc. was founded in 1973 by the late Malama Robbins Collinsworth to foster the highest standards of the musical arts. From 1998-2020, Salisbury Singers was led by Dr. Michelle Graveline to continue this standard of excellence. In 2020, Michelle assumed the role of Artistic Director Emerita. Read more about Michelle here. From 2020-2024, Salisbury Singers was led by Brad Dumont. In 2024, Brad assumed the role of Artistic Director Emeritus.

Voices of Concinnity is a 12-voice professional chamber vocal ensemble of dedicated, seasoned choral artists from diverse backgrounds, moving audiences through innovative programming that melds the unique qualities of each voice into into a vibrant, rich choral sound. Their mission is to connect with the community in a meaningful way through exquisitely crafted, innovative choral programming that fosters inclusion, promotes collaboration, illuminates variety, and ensures affordable access.

Through the performance of choral music dating from the Renaissance to the contemporary, Concinnity is dedicated to illuminating the breadth and variety of choral repertoire, including works by historically excluded and living composers, to broaden our connection within our community.  As an ensemble, Concinnity focuses on individual expression within a cohesive whole, harnessing each singer’s unique vocal qualities into a rich collective sound; thus embracing an honesty that enhances the listening experience and resonates with audiences.

Voices of Concinnity was founded in 2018 by Sarah Kaufold to help create affordable access for the community to experience professional-level choral music and to cultivate an ensemble with flexible rehearsal schedules to include singers with varying career and family commitments. The word “concinnity” means the harmonious arrangement or fitting together of the different parts of something, which encompasses our approach to ensemble singing. 

As a Global Music Award Gold Medal  Recipient , we have performed over 40 live performances in the past 6 years, including on the stage at Carnegie Hall, at state and regional conferences for the American Choral Directors Association, and many museums and venues across Connecticut. We have collaborated with numerous ensembles, including the Hartt School, Novi Cantori,  Unitas  Ensemble, and The Choir School of Hartford. We actively support the creation of new choral music and  have commissioned and/or premiered works by Cheryl B. Engelhardt, Brian Jones, Karen Siegel, Gregory Brown, Lillie Harris, Jessica  Rodman, Carolyn Quick. Voices of Concinnity actively seeks to present balanced programming, where out of the 115 songs we have performed to date, over 50% were by living composers and 35% composed by women.  

The Worcester Children’s Chorus (WCC) was founded in 2008 as a program of The Master Singers of Worcester by co-directors Jennifer Kane and Malcolm Halliday. A partnership was also formed at that time between the WCC and Assumption University making WCC a choir “in residence” at the University campus where WCC enjoys rehearsal and performance spaces as well as other resources.

The Worcester Children’s Chorus has performed with many area ensembles, including: The Master Singers of Worcester, The Assabet Valley Mastersingers, The Salisbury Singers, the Thayer Symphony Orchestra, the Worcester Youth Orchestra, and the Worcester Chorus. Members of the chorus have also performed on three occasions at Carnegie Hall in NYC, participated in the International Children’s Chorus Festival at Canterbury Cathedral and London, England, as well as the Crescent City Choral Festival in New Orleans. In 2016, the WCC was featured at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, where they performed the Star Spangled Banner before tens of thousands.