Music has always played a major role at Kennedy Heights Presbyterian Church. Past leaders have included such distinguished artists as the late Robert McSpadden, former music supervisor for Cincinnati Public Schools; Thomas Sherwood, retired voice professor from Xavier University; and Dr. Robert Muckenfuss, former keyboard player and coach for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and May Festival, who now serves on the opera faculty at the Peabody Conservatory of Music.
KHPC believes in cradle-to-grave music participation, and group members’ age range from 5 to the 80s. We have the Chancel, Adult Bell, Grace Gospel Choirs for adults, and the KHPC Kids for grades K-5. Our Brass Choir plays occasionally as well.
We believe musical expressions should stem from myriad sources. We have presented classics, such as Handel’s “Messiah” and DuBois’ “Seven Last Words of Christ”, and we commissioned a new choral work for our centennial celebration by local composer Rick Sowash. One Reformation Sunday, Bach and a banjo shared the same service, and our Dixieland Jazz Band annually provides joyous and energetic witness to the Holy Spirit’s power on Pentecost Sunday.
We love to hear guest minsters comment “Everyone really seems to enjoy singing in worship”, because we believe everyone can make a joyful noise to the Lord!
We welcome and use the talents of instrumentalists of all ages in the church, and our services have been enhanced by our in-house Brass Choir, as well as by violin, viola, cello, bassoon, clarinet, flute, saxophone, recorder, and all types of percussion. Contemporary Christian praise songs, spirituals, world music from many cultures, Broadway songs and 20th Century ragtime pieces have all contributed to our worship.
Our Chancel Choir and KHPC Kids have participated in many outreach events, including performances at the Kennedy Heights Arts Center, and taken our Christmas cantata on the road to small churches, such as Third Presbyterian, Georgetown, Reading-Lockland and Norwood Presbyterian churches. For the 1995 General Assembly, held in Cincinnati, we joined the Korean and West Cincinnati Churches for a tri-racial choir at one of the morning worships. This same choir also provided the musical leadership for a Cincinnati-based national meeting of the Children’s Defense Fund. We have also contributed musical leadership at Presbytery worship services several times and participated in community services and concerts to benefit mission work.
A unique part of KHPC arts is our Liturgical Dance Ensemble, The Daughters of Miriam, led by Mary Kamp, a Board Member and workshop planner for the National Liturgical Dance Guild. Our dancers lead processions, help the congregation respond physically to prayers and responses, and dance to specific musical pieces and prayers. Our dancers have also done outreach performances at various churches.