Music
Welcome!
There are many different worship groups and instrumental groups at Christ UMC. You will find details about each of the current choirs, bands and ensembles within this section of the website.
And, as we plan for a new sanctuary in late 2007, the worship ministry will be expanding with new opportunities for you to be involved in worship with us.
Unity Service - Enjoy these Matt Kauffmann photos of the choir, congregation and speakers.
New - Visit Don's blog
For more details or information, or if you’re interested in one of these groups, please contact Worship Director Don Frazure at 277-4659 or visit his blog to learn news for all the music ensemble and chancel choir.
Worship Director - Don Frazure
A graduate of the Juilliard Opera Center, Mr. Frazure holds the B.M. and M.M. degrees from William Carey College and University of Southern Mississippi respectively.
"Don is a huge asset to this growing congregation as we pursue our mission 'to connect people with Jesus Christ," Senior Pastor Rev. Shane Bishop said.
Frazure has drawn rave reviews for a voice that is “sweet and supple” as well as “rich and full of passion.” He is in high demand to sing with major orchestras throughout the United States.
Praised for having a voice that is “sweet and supple” as well as “rich and full of passion,” versatile tenor Don Frazure invests the roles he performs with charm and musicality.
In 2001, the Mississippi native made his New York City Opera debut as Tamino in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and joined the roster of the Metropolitan Opera for Prokovief’s War and Peace. He has performed with Opera Omaha as Don Ottavio in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and as Fenton in Verdi’s Falstaff; Spoleto Festival USA as Steersman in The Flying Dutchman, Mozart’s Requiem, and in recital with pianist Diane Richardson. He has also made a return to NYCO for Tamino and productions of Il Tabarro, Le Nozze di Figaro and L’etoile; Arizona Opera and Pine Mountain Music Festival as Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore; the Metropolitan Opera in Wagner’s Parsifal; and with Seattle Opera and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra as Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte.
In demand with major orchestras throughout the United States, Mr. Frazure has garnered critical acclaim for performances with Boston Baroque and the Baltimore Symphony in Handel’s Messiah, the New Jersey Symphony in Haydn’s Theresian Mass, the Nashville Symphony in Britten’s War Requiem, the National Symphony in Verdi’s Requiem, and Mozart’s Coronation Mass with the Atlanta Symphony.
Frazure is a winner of the 2003 Sullivan Award and the 1999 Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation International Voice Competition. Other competition awards include the MacAllister Awards, Opera Index, Liederkranz Foundation, the Madame Rose Palmai-Tensor Competition of the Mobile Opera Guild of Mobile, Alabama, and a governor’s award from the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
In addition to the roles mentioned above, Frazure's opera and concert repertoire also includes Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Bach’s B-Minor Mass, Magnificat and St. John Passion (Evangelist) and Beethoven’sNinth.
A graduate of the Juilliard Opera Center, Frazure holds the B.M. and M.M. degrees from William Carey College and University of Southern Mississippi respectively.
Church Work, Teaching, Directing
Minister of Music at the following churches:
- Magnolia Baptist Church, Hattiesburg, MS
- Woodlawn Baptist Church, Pascagoula, MS
- Interim Choir Director, Lay Worship Leader, Praise Team Member and Organist at Trinity Baptist Church of New York City
Higher Education
Vocal Artist-in-Residence at William Carey College, Hattiesburg, MS
- Taught Studio Voice and Repertoire Classes, Diction for Singing (Italian, French and German), Opera Workshop, Chamber Choir / Madrigal Singers and Music Appreciation
Theater
Music Director of Carey Dinner Theatre for the past three seasons and directed sold out performances of “Smoke on the Mountain,” “Pump Boys and Dinettes,” You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”, “Some Enchanted Evening”, Clue, The Musical”, School House Rock, Live!”
