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Meet Brittany Montoro
Director of Music Ministries
Growing up in Roanoke, VA, Brittany went to Lynchburg College thinking sh e would major in psychology, but later decided that she should make a career of what she loved most—sacred music. She sang in her choir at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Roanoke and has sung with numerous choirs since, as well as composed music, conducted choirs, accompanied musical groups, and performed numerous musical tasks. Brittany graduated from Lynchburg with a BA in music theory and composition (Summa cum Laude), and is finishing her work on her Master of Music-Sacred Music, Organ at Westminster Choir College in Princeton.
Brittany comes to Freehold from New Brunswick Presbyterian Church. Among her favorite hymns is Great Is Thy Faithfulness and one of her favorite scriptures is Isaiah 40, which begins “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. “ (KJV)
Brittany played by ear until deciding to learn to read music at age 17. You’ll see how that enriches her musicality and blesses her listeners and her choir members. You can’t miss feeling her passion for sacred music when you worship with Brittany at the keyboard (or tamborines or whatever she’s playing)! You also can feel your own spiritual life lifted and blessed by her ministry.
The musicians at Freehold United Methodist Church, have a great love of music and take much pride in bringing it to the congregation and beyond.
Major musical works that the senior choir has sung are: Faure's Requiem, Handel's Messiah (Christmas portion), Saint Saen's Christmas Oratorio, Schubert's Mass in G, Dubois' Seven last words, Vivaldi's Gloria and Stainer's Crucifixion, and several other shorter contemporary seasonal works.
We also have one professional violinist, between two and five trumpets and sometimes up to six guitarists. The choir rehearses at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings on the stage of Wesley Hall.
Our 8:30 a.m. worship service is a contemporary service with a talented group of musicians sharing praise music each Sunday. The band, made up of several guitars, harmonica, drums and other percussion instruments, is led by member, Ken Budka. Children are often invited to participate in the "Joyful Noise" as the band is known.
A children's choir rehearses weekly during the Sunday School hour and sings at both the 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. services on special Sundays throughout the year.
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