Music at Abiding Peace

Choir

The Choir of Abiding Peace Lutheran Church performs weekly at the Liturgical Service, except for a break during the summer months.  Led by Music Director Ben Schroeder, the Choir’s repertoire includes anthems by both well– and little-known composers spanning from the Renaissance to present day.  Made up of approximately ten women and men, the Choir sings anthems ranging in textures from unison to five-parts, either a cappella or accompanied by the piano and occasionally the flute, played by Shelli Skeels.  The Choir’s rehearsal schedule can be found on the Events page.

Members: Howard Corneilson, Mary Kasakove, Demetria Laird, Don Larson, George Pawlo, Sibylle Schroeder, Sue Schwier, Shelli Skeels, Pastor Becky Thane

Praise Band

The Praise Band of Abiding Peace Lutheran Church performs weekly at the Contemporary Service.  Led by Music Director Ben Schroeder on the piano, the Praise Band includes Don Larson on bass guitar, Sue Stirrat on guitar and vocals, and Glenn Whitmore on lead vocals.  The Praise Band’s repertoire includes songs from the early days of contemporary Christian music up to present day, as well as spirituals, folk tunes, and original compositions.  Its rehearsal schedule can be found on the Events page.

Music Director

Benjamin Schroeder has been the Music Director of Abiding Peace Lutheran Church since March 2008.  He has been a member of Abiding Peace since 1987.  As Music Director, he plays the organ and piano during worship services.  In addition, he directs and accompanies both the Praise Band and the Choir, and he selects the majority of the music heard during worship.

Prior to leading the music ministry at Abiding Peace, Schroeder worked as the Bass Section Leader and Soloist at Peapack Reformed Church in Glastone, NJ, from October 2003 to January 2008.  He is also the Bass II Section Leader of the Morris County-based Harmonium Choral Society, with whom he has been singing since 1996.

Schroeder holds a B.A. in music (as well as a B.A. in physics) from the University of Rochester.  While there he was a charter member of the coed a cappella group Charivari, now called After Hours.  He created several arrangements of pop songs for the group and served as its Music Director for two years.  His voice and arrangements can be heard on the group’s first three albums.

Schroeder enjoys listening to a wide variety of music, including indie rock, electronica, and classical.  He resides in Jefferson Township, New Jersey

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