Music & Arts

Music plays an integral role in almost everything we do at First United Methodist Garland. From worship leadership and special seasonal performances by our adult, youth and children's choirs to local partnerships promoting music education, we take to heart the Biblical imperative to "make a joyful noise to the Lord" (Psalm 98:4 NRSV). 


Our Chancel Choir and Pure Joy! Youth Choir lead worship on Sunday mornings, in addition to performing annual musicals and touring periodically to spread the good news beyond our walls. And our Children's Choir shares a love for music thru weekly rehearsals, periodic opportunities to sing in worship, and twice-annual musicals. 


Our commitment to supporting the arts includes our West Avenue B Community Concerts, presented free of charge as a gift to our friends and neighbors in Garland and surrounding communities. Produced by and featuring Dr. Eldred Marshall, Artist-in-Residence and Associate Director of Music Ministries, these concerts also feature special guest artists from around the area and around the world. 


We also host the annual ChamberWorks Summer Music Institute and the ChamberWorks Youth Orchestra. 


The ChamberWorks Summer Music Institute is a two-week chamber music camp offering a modernized and practical curriculum designed to produce well-rounded musicians with the competitive edge to succeed. 

Children's Choir

Led by Betsy Henderson, Children's Music Coordinator, our Children's Choir performs periodically in Sunday morning worship, and performs musicals twice annually at Christmas and in May. 


Rehearsals are Sundays at 12:45pm. Registration available online. 


Staff includes Patti Burham, Kimberly Ingram and Heather Olson. All are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Pure Joy! Youth Choir

The Pure Joy! Youth Choir - for students 7th-12th grade - helps lead worship many Sundays during the school year, performs a Dessert Show fundraiser each February and an annual Spring Break Choir Tour. 

Chancel Choir

The Chancel Choir helps lead worship most Sundays. It also plays a significant role in Lent, Easter, Advent, Christmas and other services, and often presents a summer musical.


The only requirements for joining the Chancel Choir are a desire to praise God through song, a commitment to participate in weekly rehearsals, a willingness to learn and a desire to work hard.