MUSIC MINISTRY
Let there be MUSIC!
Drawing inspiration from birds, wolves, whales and other creatures - from their earliest times, humans have made music.
Across centuries, continents and religions, music has formed an important part of the voice of faith.
At Rosedale Presbyterian Church, our musical ministry seeks to honour God and honour all who would praise God - on our instruments, in our choir, from our pews - or just about anywhere else their faith leads them. Music is a gift that has given deeply to our community, and our community is deeply committed to sharing that gift - if you feel the same way, come and join us!
RPC publishes a monthly “Word and Music List” that lists the topics of sermons,
scripture readings and musical selections that will shape each Sunday and special service. The archive of past Word and Music Lists is also available on this page.
Our semi-professional choir holds opportunities for singers of a wide range of ability who are able to commit to regular rehearsals and learn to expand and share their knowledge and love of sacred music. Beginning from a large and diverse repertoire of hymns, songs and choral works that span centuries and languages, we seek to support all who sing in our congregation, who watch and listen to our livestreams and recordings, and anyone for whom beauty and excellence offer a glimpse of heaven.
The Organ
In 1982, a splendid pipe organ by the renowned builder Karl Wilhelm from Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec was installed at Rosedale Presbyterian. This magnificent two-manual tracker action organ enhances our worship services with its rich and inspiring tones. Learn more about our organ here.
Blessed by this ministry? You can help us keep going by donating here.
Director of Music
Christopher Dawes
Numbered among Canada's leading church musicians, concert organists and choral accompanists, Chris is a unique musician and thinker whose career routinely takes him across musical and denominational lines few of his colleagues cross, and always into new and stimulating opportunities for both music and ministry. Having served churches large and small, including St James’ Cathedral from 1991 to 2003 and by special invitation Timothy Eaton Memorial Church from 2013-2015, he has served the congregation of Rosedale Presbyterian Church since September of 2017.
One of Toronto's best-known and most sought-after freelance organists, Chris is also a pianist and accompanist of note, serving currently the orchestral and choral conducting and education programs of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music, as guest artist to Toronto and Southern Ontario’s finest ensembles. Following on graduate work in Music Criticism in the area of musical genre Chris speaks at conferences and concert performances, occasionally blogs and podcasts from www.ideasaboutmusic.ca, and in 2013 founded and leads the Celtic band Chroi.
Chris has served as a Director of Canada's Summer Institute of Church Music (Whitby, Ontario) for twenty of its 55 years, and more recently as Executive Chair of the Southern Ontario Chapter of the Hymn Society of the United States and Canada. A passionate advocate for the organ, sacred music and his country's cultural life, Chris is perhaps best known for a musicianship that crosses classical and popular styles and eras; for his imaginative, informed and approachable presentation of both the familiar and the obscure, and for his love of history, places, people, and all that is unusual and inspirational in music. Chris lives in Georgetown 45 km north west of Toronto with his wife Marcia, their three children Nate, Simon and Charlotte, and their dogs Martha and Phoebe.