Photos, videos: Choirs are still an integral part of church worship services
Many churches are cleaning out their choir lofts to make space for praise teams.
Or that seems to be the trend these days. But not for all churches.
There are lots of churches of different Christian denominations who not only are holding on to their choirs but growing them. Some are even maintaining additional choirs for men, women, youth and handbells.
The choir directors for these churches say choirs are part of the Christian tradition. Choirs also give more church members an opportunity to participate in worship services and set the spiritual tone for the service.
Here are photos of four area churches where choirs are still an integral part of their worship experience.
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Left, Gwyneth Rees and Luna Touchet sing at the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir in a rehearsal in Opelousas.
Marvin Smith recently retired as a minister of music but quickly came out of retirement to build Zachary Community Church's choir from the ground up.
Mount Zion First Baptist Church has several choirs, including its Youth Choir.
Woody Watson and members of the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir share a laugh in a rehearsal in Opelousas.
The Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir rehearses after mass in Opelousas.
First Baptist Church Baton Rouge's choir is pictured here with the church's symphony after performing its annual Christmas program.
The Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir rehearses after Mass in Opelousas.
Mount Zion First Baptist Church's Youth Choir is shown after its performance of its annual Christmas program.
The Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir rehearses after mass in Opelousas.
The Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir rehearses after mass in Opelousas, Sunday, March 17, 2024.
Recorded live by the choir of Our Lady Queen of Angels Church under the direction of Dr William Plummer.
Organist: Linda Lorenzen
The choir at Zachary Community Church started out with a handful of members in February and continues to grow.
William Plummer conducts the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir in a rehearsal in Opelousas, Sunday, March 17, 2024.
Choir director Marvin Smith is building Zachary Community Church's choir from the ground up. The choir rehearses for the first time with a handful of members in this video. Its numbers have since grown. Staff video by Robin Miller
Marvin Smith was minister of music at First Baptist Church of Baker for 19 years, retiring when the church permanently closed its doors on Dec. 31. He came out of retirement to build a choir from the ground up at Zachary Community Church.
William Plummer conducts the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir in a rehearsal in Opelousas.
Choir directors Arthur Gremillion of Mount Zion First Baptist Church, front, left, and Christian Vige of First Baptist Church Baton Rouge, front, right, often combine their church's choirs into the Gathered Voices for community programs.
William Plummer conducts the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir in a rehearsal in Opelousas.
As worship and arts director at Mount Zion First Baptist Church, Arthur Gremillion, front, center, directs several choirs, including the church's Men's Ensemble.
William Plummer conducts the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir in a rehearsal in Opelousas, Sunday, March 17, 2024.
Mount Zion First Baptist Church's Youth Choir performs a Sunday program.
William Plummer conducts the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir in a rehearsal in Opelousas, Sunday, March 17, 2024.
Arthur Gremillion has been the music and arts director at Mount Zion First Baptist Church for five years.
The Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir rehearses after mass in Opelousas.
First Baptist Church Baton Rouge Minister of Music Christian Vige directs both the sanctuary choir and symphony on a Sunday morning.
Organist Linda Lorenzen plays the organ with the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir at rehearsal in Opelousas.
Marvin Smith directs the newly formed choir at Zachary Community Church. He began building the choir from the ground up in February.
The Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir rehearses after mass in Opelousas.
Mount Zion First Baptist Church's Women's Ensemble performs a program.
The Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir rehearses after mass in Opelousas.
Gathered Voices, a combination of the choirs of First Baptist Church Baton Rouge and Mount Zion First Baptist Church, performs a program in First Baptist's sanctuary.
The Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir rehearses after mass in Opelousas.
Marvin Smith leads the Zachary Community Church in its first choir rehearsal in February. The choir has since grown.
William Plummer conducts the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir in a rehearsal in Opelousas.
Mount Zion First Baptist Church's Men's Ensemble performs a program.
Daniel Richard, Anthony Voiers and Spencer Chipman participate in a rehearsal at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir n Opelousas.
Christian Vige has been minister of music at First Baptist Church Baton Rouge for one year.
William Plummer conducts the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir in a rehearsal in Opelousas.
The choirs of First Baptist Church Baton Rouge and Mount Zion First Baptist Church combine to form Gathered Voices in a program in First Baptist's sanctuary.
The Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir rehearses after mass in Opelousas.
Arthur Gremillion, music and art director for Mount Zion First Baptist Church, speaks at a Gathered Voices program at First Baptist Church Baton Rouge.
William Plummer conducts the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir in a rehearsal in Opelousas,
The choirs of First Baptist Church Baton Rouge and Mount Zion First Baptist Church combine in a group called Gathered Voices in a program in First Baptist's sanctuary.
William Plummer conducts the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir in a rehearsal in Opelousas.
Mount Zion First Baptist Church's Men's Ensemble presents a program on a Sunday morning.
Organist Linda Lorenzen plays the organ with the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir at rehearsal in Opelousas.
Mount Zion First Baptist Church's Men's Ensemble presents a program on a Sunday morning.
William Plummer conducts the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir in a rehearsal in Opelousas.
The Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir rehearses after mass in Opelousas.
William Plummer conducts the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church's choir in a rehearsal in Opelousas.