Salem Creative Arts

Salem Creative Arts/ Music Ministry offers a wide variety of worship support ensembles. Gifts of music and praise enrich and enhance services as people of all ages work together to share music as their gift to God, the congregation, and community.

Adult and Children's Vocal Choirs and Intergenerational Handbell and Puppet Teams participate in worship on a rotating basis and rehearse weekly during the school year on Wednesday or Thursday evenings. See the Creative Arts Calendar for the schedule.

Seasonal groups include Brass, Flute, Praise-style, or Vocal Ensembles and a Festival of Carols at Christmas. Salem Children's Choir shared the annual Spring Musical – on April 18 and 19.  . Individual gifts of music are most welcome as well.

Come, thou Fount of every Blessing ….
TUNE my HEART to sing your
Praise Salem Creative Arts Winter - Spring

Children’s Choir (Age 4 - Grade 5)  Wednesdays - 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Celebration Voices (SATB Part-Singing) Wednesdays - 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Puppet Praise (Grade 5 thru Adult)

Thursdays - 6:15-7:15 p.m.

Sounds of Grace Bells (Youth and Adults)

Thursdays - 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Kids come for a musical camp-out!   Jesus loves you S’more than you know!   

For the Winter-Spring Salem Creative Arts Schedule click here

Salem Vocal Choirs gather groups of children and adults to teach the faith in song and celebrate God's love and grace in worship. There's a place for singers as young as 4 years of age. Please consider exploring the gift of music God has given you or your child. Visit a choir, handbell, or puppet practice between mid-September through mid-May to see if it's a good fit and feel. Offer to share music on an instrument or sing a solo.

Salem Puppet Praise Team brings smiles as adorable people, animal, and creature puppets come to life to share faith stories and songs for worship services and outreach programs. Learn to be a puppeteer Thursdays from 6:15-7:15 p.m. in the Choir Room, September 12 - May, and let your inner child shine through! Youth and adults, grade 5 and up, make a great intergenerational team ministry. Salem Puppets share in worship about once a month and prepare longer programs of faith or history about three times a year for care centers, community venues, or other churches.

Sounds of Grace Bells is for middle school and older, youth and adults who enjoy the teamwork of a handbell choir and the blessing of songs of faith. Each ringer plays 2 to 4 bells and learns to ring them with various techniques as indicated in the score. The ability to read music is preferred; others can learn. Ringers work with a 3-octave set of Malmark handbells and play for worship once or twice a month and for Festival services. Rehearsals are from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays in the Balcony
September 12 - May.

Please contact Ron Vanatta at 815.895.9171 or ron@slcsycamore.org if you have questions or wish to participate.

Each spring Salem children and youth prepare a fun themed musical drama for Salem worship services, and often share it as an outreach for a local care center. Rehearsals are held according to the children's availability about 8-10 weeks prior to the presentation date. Children are given a songbook and rehearsal CD to learn the speaking parts and songs at home, and work on choreography and staging at the rehearsals. Adults and older youth help with set construction, costumes, choreography, sound, snacks, etc..

Besides being a lot of fun, musicals help kids memorize scripture and faith stories, build musical skill, stage presence and confidence, and give the kids time to build new relationships.

If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“The Lord doesn’t look at the things people look at, like your outward appearance. God looks at your heart.” (1 Samuel 6:7)
“Focus on things that are true and honorable and just, pure, lovely, admirable —and the peace of God will be with you.”
(Philippians 4:8-9)
Calling all Kids Grades K-8!
Join in the fun of Salem’s
Spring Musical!

“Livin’ Inside Out” will be presented for Salem worship the week after Easter
Saturday, April 18 at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 19 at 10:30 a.m.
This broadway-style musical takes place in the gym of Salem Christian Academy, where an injured young athlete named Zach is focused on impressing visiting coaches. Gym teacher Ms. Simmons joins Nurse Zelda in exploring Zach’s heart as they consider his spiritual health as well. Sarah, Emma, Lucy, Kendall and Jackson round out the cast. If you enjoy singing, movement, and simple acting, you’ll love preparing this musical that celebrates living life as a Baptized Child of God.

Songs include Inhale the New Life, Here’s What-cha What-cha What-cha Gotta Do,
Livin’ Inside Out, Three Blind Guys, The Ways of the World,
Upside Down World, Shepherd Boy, Only You, and Everyday.
Books and CDs are available from Carla Vanatta.
Auditions for speaking parts and solos are Wednesday -
February 12th from 5:30-6:30 pm in the Choir Room.

Main Rehearsals are 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Sundays after church from
February 16 thru April 5 [bring a sack lunch to Chapel Lounge].
(No rehearsal Easter Sunday)
Wednesday night rehearsals are 6:00 – 6:30 p.m. February 19 – April 8
[the second half of children’s choir] Dress rehearsal is Wednesday – April 15, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
with a pizza supper.
Youth and Adult helpers are also invited for Sound,
Choreography, Set Design, and Props.
Please contact Carla Vanatta at 815-895-8521 or carla@slcsycamore.org

These pictures are from the 2019 musical "Star Factor" taken by Steve Daskal

Adult and youth singers come together once or twice a year to prepare special Christmas or Lenten programs, extended works of narration, and songs. Instrumentalists or soloists are often featured in these worship presentations. Rehearsals are held on scheduled Sunday and Wednesday evenings prior to the presentation and all singers are welcome.