Music

Welcome in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the New Song!

Sacred Music at King of Glory Lutheran Church has its life and being in the saving work of our dear Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, music is integral to the life and ministry of Word and Sacrament of the congregation.

Dr. Martin Luther believed Music to be God’s greatest gift, second only to theology.  He believed God works through the means of theology to instruct us rightly about our Lord Christ and His work to save us from our sins.  Dr. Luther further believed God works through His gift of music to plant His Word deep in our hearts to strengthen our faith, and to comfort and to cheer us in Christ.  Thus, by the grace and mercy of Almighty God, the congregation at King of Glory Lutheran Church preaches, teaches, sings, and confesses Christ Jesus and Him crucified for our sins and risen from the dead for our justification.  To that end, the congregation offers a variety of choirs and instrumental ensembles.

Sacred Music at King of Glory Lutheran Church is under the direction of Kantor Dr. Steven Hoffman.   Dr. Hoffman has served as our Parish Kantor since September 2000.  Kantor Hoffman serves as organist, directs all choirs and ensembles, composes and arranges music for the Divine Service, and assists with planning the Liturgies.  In 2001, Kantor Hoffman founded the King’s Concert Series highlighting local chamber music ensembles from Cheyenne and across the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.  Two hallmarks of the King’s Concert Series are the annual King’s Christmas Festival in December; and the annual Afternoon of Patriotic Music.  Musical events can be found on the calendar on the Home Page of our Website.

King of Glory Lutheran Church offers the following Choirs and Instrumental Ensembles:

Adult Choir –   Our Parish Adult Choir assists in the Divine Service and various additional occasions from Labor Day until the Feast of the Holy Trinity in late Spring.  The Adult Choir also participates in our annual King’s Christmas Festival in early December, and in our annual Afternoon of Patriotic Music in May.  The Adult Choir is open to all who have completed Catechesis and are confirmed.

Youth Choir –   We are grateful for all of our Youth, who are so very helpful in so many ways – including with music.  Our Youth gather on assigned Sundays and rehearse prior to the Divine Service, then provide music within that day’s Service.

Children’s Choir –   Our Children’s Choir rehearses every Sunday morning throughout the year, then sing once each month in the Sunday Divine Service.  Each year, the Children’s Choir prepares and sings a Christmas Service in December.

Men’s Choir –   The Men’s Choir is offered to all men and boys, especially those desiring to sing in the Adult Choir, but are unable due to time or schedule conflicts.  The Men’s Choir rehearses prior to the Sunday Divine Service, then sings within the Service on the same day.

Women’s Choir –   The Women’s Choir is offered to all women and girls, especially those desiring to sing in the Adult Choir, but are unable due to time or schedule conflicts.  The Women’s Choir rehearses prior to the Sunday Divine Service, then sings within the Service on the same day.

Men’s Ensemble –   The Men’s Ensemble is a smaller choir, rehearsing Tuesday evenings two to three weeks prior to singing in the assigned Sunday Divine Service.

Native Flutes and Strings –  This ensemble brings together Native American Flutes with Violin and Guitar. This ensemble, with its lovely, gentle sound, rehearses Wednesday afternoons (from Labor Day until the Feast of the Holy Trinity in late Spring), and is heard in the Divine Service on assigned Sundays.

Recorder Ensemble –  The Recorder Ensemble harkens unto the era of the Renaissance and the Lutheran Reformation.  The Recorder Ensemble rehearses and brings music to the Divine Service from Labor Day until the Feast of the Holy Trinity in late Spring.

Handbell Ensemble –  The Handbell Ensemble provides a wonderful, percussive brightness to the music of the Divine Service.  For hundreds of years, bells have called God’s people to His House to be nourished by His precious gifts of forgiveness and life.  The Handbell Ensemble rehearses and brings music to the Liturgies of the Divine Service from Labor Day until the Feast of the Holy Trinity in late Spring.

Oboes – rehearse and bring music to the Divine Service on assigned Sundays throughout the year.
The sound of the Oboes brings the woodwind dimension to the sound of music in the Divine Service.  The Oboes form the foundation of what is planned to be a Woodwind Ensemble.

Brass Ensemble – rehearses and plays on High Feast Days.  The Brass Ensemble is comprised of Trumpet, Trombone, Horn, and Tuba Majors from the Department of Music at the University of Wyoming.  The Brass Ensemble heralds the tidings of the Gospel in our Reformation observance in late October; it heralds the Good News of “Christ is risen!” on Easter Day; and shares in various Feasts as assigned.

Pipe Organs at King of Glory Lutheran Church

The Sanctuary Organ

Is a blessing from God – came to us in the Spring of 2001.  It is an instrument whose history began in another congregation.  The organ was originally built by the Wicks Organ Company of Highland, Illinois for the chapel at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  When the Cathedral received a gift to have a new organ built for the chapel, the existing organ was made available to King of Glory Lutheran Church.  This organ was a perfect fit for our Sanctuary space – neither too large, nor too small.

The organ was moved to Cheyenne and was installed at King of Glory Lutheran Church through the Summer and Fall of 2001.  Charles Ruggles, of Charles M. Ruggles Pipe Organs, Conifer, Colorado installed the organ.  Mr. Ruggles also revoiced the pipes according to the acoustical properties of our Sanctuary.  The organ was formally dedicated to the Glory of God in Christ Jesus on Easter Day, March 31, 2002.  It has served very well in the Divine Service, supporting the congregation’s Song.  The pipe organ also served as the inspiration to found the King’s Concert Series.  The organ is heard in recital as well as performing with the guest ensembles on the Concert Series.

Portativ Organ

The Portativ works very well supporting choirs as well as instrumental ensembles.  It even works well as a secondary organ, supporting the congregation’s singing.  The Portativ, which is the property of our Kantor Hoffman, is on casters and may be moved into the Sanctuary, the Parish Hall, any classroom, or anywhere organ music is desired within the building.  The Portativ was originally built by Rene Marceau of Portland, Oregon in 1993.  It is an instrument with mechanical or tracker key and stop action.  The Portativ operates with electricity, or it may be pumped manually without electricity.

Two-Manual Portable Pipe Organ

Crafted together by apprentices of Rene Marceau of Portland, Oregon, this organ was created to bring the pipe organ into places where there was no other such instrument.  This organ, along with the Portativ, are active participants in our King’s Christmas Festival in early December.  This event takes place in our Parish Hall, and the combination of these two pipe organs brings an added dimension to both choral and instrumental music, and to the assembly singing Christmas Carols.  Both the Two-manual Portable and the Portativ are the property of our Kantor, Dr. Hoffman. Occasionally, both organs are taken to other locations for church related conferences and conventions.

Lessons and information

Kantor Hoffman is available for voice, piano and organ lessons. Please contact him through the information request form.

For further information about Music at King of Glory Lutheran Church, including the King’s Concert Series, please contact our Kantor, Dr. Steven Hoffman at the Church using the contact information and e-mail on the Contact Page of our Website.

Thank you for visiting.  May God the Father in Christ Jesus His Son bless and keep you always.