Music at Bethesda
Music at Bethesda 2023-2024 Season
Click here to download and print our 2023-2024 music list with the Concerts and Choral Services for the season.
Bethesda Choir
The Bethesda Choir is an auditioned ensemble, under the leadership of Dr. Stuart Forster, Associate for Music, and Liturgy. Our choir is well known and respected in the community for its fine singing and musicianship and is responsible for leading the congregation and music in all of our major services. The choir’s repertoire draws on the vast legacy of the Anglican/Episcopal cathedral tradition, spanning six centuries and styles from Renaissance polyphony to living composers.
Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings from September through May. The choir sings on Sunday mornings at the 11:00 a.m. service, as well as at services on many Feast Days and Holy Days. From October through May, the choir provides leadership in our First-Sunday-of-the-month Evensong. There are generally several services during the year at which the choir sings music of a larger scale—sometimes with orchestral accompaniment. The Bethesda Choir is the centerpiece of our annual Christmas Concert Sing and also plays a major role in our Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival.
Click here if you are interested in auditioning for the Bethesda Choir.
The Austin Organ
The Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea houses a magnificent organ comprising more than 6000 pipes. As one of the largest and finest instruments in the south, the organ contains 109 ranks of pipes, distributed over nine divisions, allowing the organist to blend multiple choruses from around the building. Click here to Learn more about the Austin Organ.
Stay Informed
We publicize our services and concerts through e-mail communication. If you would like to be added to our e-mail list, please sign-up here.
Boar’s Head
Hundreds pack Bethesda-by-the-Sea for the annual Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival, performed here since 1977. The traditional English boar’s head festival dates back to the 1300s in Queen’s College, Oxford. Wild boars menaced villagers in Norman England, and the serving of the boar symbolized the triumph of good over evil. In the beautiful gothic church, we relive the pageantry and drama of 14th century England.
More than 160 cast members of all ages, including parishioners, vocalists, the Bethesda Choir, Palm Beach Pipes and Drums, and instrumentalists, dress as lords and ladies, sprites, pages, jesters, shepherds, huntsmen, and beefeaters in a mingling of secular and Christian traditions. You will hear favorite Christmas Carols, enjoy fantastic costumes and performances, and feel the majesty of the arrival of the Baby Jesus. Join us for a wonderful celebration and a fitting close to a joyous holiday season.
Three performances take place on the weekend closest to The Epiphany, the twelfth day of Christmas, which is the date when we commemorate the Three Kings’ arrival in Bethlehem. Tickets are available online a few weeks before the performances and are also available at the door until sold out.
If you’re not familiar with the Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival here is a preview which we hope you’ll enjoy.
Concerts & Evensongs
Our concerts and choral services throughout the year include our continuing series of First-Sunday Evensongs, each preceded by a half-hour recital. A Service of Advent Lessons and Carols, the annual Christmas Concert and Community Carol Sing, and A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols are some of Bethesda’s most popular concerts. Click here to download and print our 2023-2024 music list with the Concerts and Choral Services for the season.
Upcoming Concerts and Choral Services
Sundays, June 11–September 17, 2023 Summer Choir sings at the 10:00 a.m. service
Sunday, September 24, 2023 Bethesda Choir begins singing weekly at the 10:00 a.m. service
Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. Organ recital; 4:00 p.m. Choral Evensong
Friday, October 27, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. Halloween costume party in the Garth, followed by screening of the 1929 classic Phantom of the Opera, with Dorothy Papadakos, organist. Tickets available at bbts.org
Sunday, November 5, 2023 Bethesda Choir begins singing weekly at the 11:00 a.m. service
Sunday, November 5, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. Mozart Requiem for All Saints’ Sunday, with orchestra [prelude at 3:55 p.m.]
Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. Advent Lessons & Carols [prelude at 3:40 p.m.]
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. Christmas concert [with orchestra]
Sunday, December 24, 2023 at 6:30 & 10:00 p.m. Festal Eucharist for Christmas Eve [with brass & percussion]
Monday, December 25, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. Festal Eucharist for Christmas Day
Sunday, December 31, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. Christmas Lessons & Carols
Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. Boar’s Head Festival [with brass, pipes, drums, and more]
Sunday, January 7, 2024 at 2:00 & 4:30 p.m. Boar’s Head Festival [with brass, pipes, drums, and more]
Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. Piano recital; 4:00 p.m. Choral Evensong
Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Concert by the 75-voice St. Olaf Choir, one of the premier a cappella choirs in the United States. Tickets are available at stolaf.edu/tickets/choir/ or (800) 363-5487
Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday Eucharist
Sunday, March 3, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. Organ recital; 4:00 p.m. Choral Evensong
Sunday, March 24, 2024 at 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Palm Sunday
Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday liturgy
Friday, March 29, 2024 at 12:00 noon Good Friday liturgy
Saturday, March 30, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. The Great Vigil of Easter
Sunday, March 31, 2024 at 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Festal Eucharist for Easter Day [with brass & percussion]
Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. Organ recital; 4:00 p.m. Choral Evensong
Sunday, May 5, 2024 Bethesda Choir begins singing weekly at the 10:00 a.m. service
Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. Organ recital; 4:00 p.m. Choral Evensong
Sunday, May 12, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Bishop Eaton Visitation
Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Last choir Sunday before Summer Choir
Click here to download and print our 2023-2024 music list
Contribute to our Music Ministry
We welcome your tax-deductible contribution toward the expenses of our series.
You may click here to donate online or send your contribution to:
Music at Bethesda
141 South County Road
Palm Beach, FL 33480
As a contributor, your name will be listed in all printed programs for our concerts (not, of course, for the services). We look forward to greeting you at many of our future events!