The fine arts play a major role in the life of The Chicago Temple. The Temple Choir sings at all major worship services during the heart of the church year. Directed by Erik Nussbaum, it is composed of volunteer choristers anchored by professional section leaders. The organ in the sanctuary is a four-manual Skinner-Wicks instrument with 92 ranks of pipes. A brand new custom-built console was designed and installed by Randall Karstens Organ Works, Ltd. in December 2008. In addition, the Temple's services are enriched by the contributions of the Temple Handbell Ensemble, the Temple Strings, and the Temple Winds.

 
Chicago Temple Choir
Led by eight section leaders, the 35-voice Temple Choir continues to grow.  The choir learns and sings music from all eras of music history and from many of the world’s cultures that is appropriate for both the season and the liturgy of the day.  Our repertoire is vast and worldly, and we sing in many languages.  The choir enhances our worship greatly by leading in hymn singing, presenting anthems, and often solos every Sunday during the 11:00am service.  Rehearsals are every Wednesday evening from 6:00pm to 8:00pm in the 3rd Floor Choir Room.

 
Chicago Temple Choir Section Leaders
The Choir’s section leaders are:  Julia Tarlo and Karen Nussbaum, soprano; Rachel Fry and Brenna Boncosky, alto; Adam Doe and Jim Parsons, tenor; and Lucas Wood and Bob Trautvetter, bass.  The section leader octet sings together in worship at 8:30am for the second, fourth, and fifth Sundays of each month.  However, it is because of their excellence as soloists that they are most admired and enjoyed by our congregation.  Being a section leader requires a commitment of one year, and they are called upon regularly to sing for weddings, memorials, and other special events in the artistic life of the Temple.      

 
Gospel Choir
The 12-voice Gospel Choir sings the authentic music of the African-American tradition, past and present.  They learn music in the oral tradition and rarely use printed music.  The ensemble sings during the 8:30am worship services on the first and third Sunday of each month.  They rehearse every Tuesday evening from 6:15pm to 8:00pm in the 3rd Floor Choir Room.  They are led by Kelly Tiebout at the piano and Brad Opland on bass, and are anchored by four section leaders: Jennifer Booth, soprano; Denise Yates, alto; Henry Pleas, tenor; Khary Laurent, bass.

 
Temple String Ensemble
The Temple String Ensemble is led by a professional violinist, and sustained by amateurs of various age and skill levels.  They provide excellent music for worship in a variety of ways:  as soloists, as an ensemble, and as a chamber ensemble supporting a soloist or the choir.  They rehearse regularly either at 9:30am or at 12:15pm in the choir room on Sundays.

Temple Winds
The Temple Winds formed early in 2008, and include oboe, flute, clarinet, bassoon, and horn players. They will make their debut playing in one of our Sunday worship services in the fall of 2008. Rehearsals occur on the fourth Sunday of each month at 12:15 in Dixon Chapel.

 
Temple Handbell Ensemble
The majority of the Temple’s eleven-member Handbell Ensemble have been playing together for four years.  They play a wide variety of sacred music with a 3 octave set of Schulmerich Brass bells.  They rehearse on Monday evening from 6:00pm to 7:00pm and play in worship for the 11:00am service on the second Sunday of each month. Erik Nussbaum is the director.

K - 3rd Grade Music
Music for children is led by Jeffrey Taylor every Sunday morning in the fourth floor music room, from 10:00 until 10:15 a.m. Mr. Jeff teaches singing and engages the children with rhythm using elementary percussion instruments of all kinds. The children present music in worship four times each year: Children's Sabbath, Children's Nativity, Black History, and Mother's Day. All children grades K - 3 are welcome.

4th - 12th Grade Music
Music for older children and youth is led by Erik Nussbaum. Practices are from 12:15 until 1:00 p.m. after church on announced Sundays in the third floor choir room. The versatile ensemble sings and presents music in worship four times each year: Children's Sabbath, Children's Nativity, Black History, and Mother's Day.

 
WDW Fine Arts
The William D. White Fine Arts Committee has sought to establish and strengthen significant relationships with the artistic and cultural organizations of the city of Chicago. 

The Chicago Humanities Festival, the Chicago Children’s Choir, the Merit School of Music, the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Chicago Historical Society, Adler Planetarium, Chicago Semester in the Arts, and the School of the Art Institute all are in association with us in making rough places plain where divisions divide.  Through the gifts established, such distinguished artists as:  Kurt Elling, Jim Post, Jeremy Taylor, The Millenium Chamber Players, Celebration Strings, Josephine Lee, the Chicago Brass Band, Willie Pickens, 1000 Generations, Mariachi Sol de Oro, The Lakeside Singers, and The Apollo Chorus have all shared generously their unique gifts with our congregation and those who live and work in the Loop.

Each spring, the Fine Arts Committee sponsors an Arts festival featuring primarily visual art, photography, and poetry, created and submitted for display by our own church members. During May and June of 2008, pictures taken by thirty-five people ranging in age from 9 to 90, have been on display in James Parlor pertaining to the theme, "God in our World". Beautiful sunsets and sunrises, landscapes and seascapes, plants, animals (especially pets!), families and friends were represented as favorite subjects. Majestic pictures from around the world, and simple scenes of everyday life in markets and villages lended a rich contrast exemplifying the cultural diversity inherent to life at the Chicago Temple. Christian scenes of Calvary and light and even a baptism in Lake Michigan, depict the myriad perspectives we see God through our own eyes. And at the heart of "God in our World" are the loving relationships captured in a moment between a brother and sister, a mother and child, or a grandmother and granddaughter. We have been blessed by the art of God's love captured visually in these special moments on display to share and remember here in our Christian family together. 

The Fine Arts Committee is chaired by Jon Kaplan, and currently has twenty members.  

 
Faith Writers
The Faith Writers provide an open sanctuary for writers of all faith-based traditions who seek often to focus their creativity on religious and spiritual themes.  It is a very welcoming group that, through sharing, reading, and discussion of personal work, as well as the writing of others, explores the myriad ways God speaks to and through us.  Discussions center on poetry, stories, journaling, and family history, and aren’t limited by words specifically about faith.  They meet regularly on the fourth Thursday of the month.

 
Silk Road Theatre Project
The SRTP showcases playwrights of Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean backgrounds, whose works address themes relevant to the peoples of the Silk Road and their Diaspora communities. 

Through the creation and presentation of outstanding theater, their aim is, “to promote discourse and dialogue among culturally diverse audiences in Chicago.”  SRTP is a creative response to the attacks of September 11, 2001.  Company co-founders and life partners, Malik Gillani and Jamil Khoury, felt galvanized to respond to the anti-Arab and anti-Muslim sentiments that swept the U.S. in the aftermath of the attacks.  Chicago’s first ever theater company dedicated to representing such diverse peoples and cultures, has made the Chicago Temple their artistic home. 

Look for the purple brochure to learn more about the outstanding artists of the Silk Road Theatre Project, and please visit their website, www.srtp.org, to see about their season of plays, playwright discussions, and many other related events.

"Come and see…"
(John 1:46)