Music

Chancel Choir

Lewinsville's Chancel Choir is open to all ages and skill levels willing to make a reasonable commitment, eager to be challenged, and open to experiencing the reward of spiritual and musical growth that comes from working together to make beautiful music. The choir sings a wide variety of repertoire from renaissance to modern day compositions. The Chancel Choir is supported by five vocal professionals who serve as section leaders.

Rehearsals: Thursdays at 7:30 - 9 p.m.
Location: Music Room
Director: John Nothaft, Director of Music Ministries

Register Here

Chancel Bells

Lewinsville's Chancel Bells works on advanced bell techniques and involved compositions, with a focus towards fellowship and performance in worship. They ring for worship and in the community throughout the year.

Rehearsals: Thursdays, 6-7 p.m.
Location: Music Room
Director: John Nothaft, Director of Music Ministries

Register Here

Lewinsville Cantorum

The Lewinsville Cantorum is an advanced chamber choir made up of members of the Lewinsville Chancel Choir and our five section leaders. Repertoire includes music of the Renaissance, Baroque, and contemporary classical. For more information, contact John Nothaft.

Lewinsville Choristers and Lewinsville Bells (Grades 3-12)

The Lewinsville choristers and bells learn repertoire appropriate for use in worship services while developing lifelong leadership, music, and Christian worship skills.

• Choristers Rehearsals: Sundays, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
• Bells Rehearsals: Sundays, 5:30-6 pm.

           Location: Music Room
           Director: John Nothaft, Director of Music

Joyful Noise (Ages 3-Grade 2)

For our youngest singers, with games emphasizing rhythm, movement, and simple songs, children explore their voices and learn the basics of singing, music making, while gaining a familiarity with Christian worship.

Rehearsals:

• 1st Sunday - 11 a.m. Extended Sermon Stories music class for worship
• 2nd Sunday - 5:30 p.m.  class before Dinner Church.
• 3rd Sunday - 9:45 a.m. Messy Church Worship, followed by music activities.
• 4th Sunday - 9:30-10 a.m.

Joyful Noise
Location: Children’s Music Room
Director: Evan Ayars, Children’s Music Specialist

The Chancel Quartet serves as section leaders to the Chancel Choir, providing vocal leadership.

Kathleen Gibson, Soprano I

Kate Gibson is honored to serve as the Soprano I Section Leader at Lewinsville Presbyterian Church, where she finds joy in contributing to meaningful worship through music. With a background in choral music and a deep appreciation for sacred repertoire, she brings both skill and heart to her role in the music ministry.

She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree with a concentration in Choral/General Music from James Madison University and is currently in her fifth year of teaching music. Throughout her career, Miss Gibson has been passionate about building community through music and helping others connect spiritually through song.

Outside of church, she directs the Dolce Choir (grades 2–3) with the Arlington Children’s Chorus and teaches choir at Willard Middle School.

Kathryn Morgan, Soprano II

Kathryn Morgan, originally from Baltimore, Maryland, has been living and working in Fairfax, Virginia since 2020. Kathryn is currently a General Music Teacher and Chorus Director at Laurel Ridge Elementary School in Fairfax, Virginia and has been singing with the Voce Chamber Singers since 2021. Kathryn is also currently completing a Masters of Music Education at Florida State University as a part of their summer MME program. She graduated from James Madison University in 2020 with a Bachelors in Music Education and a minor in Special Education. During her undergraduate studies, she sang with JMU’s premier choral ensemble, The Madison Singers, and served as the soprano choral scholar at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Kathryn has served as the Lewinsville Presbyterian soprano II section leader since 2021.

Jeannette Mulherin, Alto

Jeannette Mulherin has served as the Chancel Choir’s alto section leader since 2001. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice with a Violin minor at the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University, a graduate degree in Islam and Muslim-Christian Relations from Georgetown University, and a Ph.D. in Writing and Rhetoric from George Mason University. Jeannette works as a consultant for Peraton, a Washington D.C.-based national security and technology firm. In her spare time, she writes for the Maryland Theatre Guide, handcrafts her own soap, and plays a mean Irish fiddle. Jeannette lives in Leesburg with her husband Ryan and their two dogs, Giacomo Poochini and Mimi Violetta.

Evan Ayars, Tenor

Evan Montgomery Ayars serves as Children's Music Specialist at Lewinsville. Mr. Ayars graduated with a Bachelor’s of Music from James Madison University with a concentration in Vocal Music Education in 2005. He began teaching in Fairfax County Public Schools, specializing in General Music for grades K-6. Since 2012, Evan has been a dedicated instructor of Chorus and Piano at Chantilly High School for grades 9-12. In 2020, he earned his Graduate Degree in Music Education from George Mason University. Currently, Evan directs Chorus at Chantilly High School, Rocky Run Middle School, and Franklin Middle School. He also serves as the Bass Section Leader in the Adult Choir and as a Youth Advisor at Lewinsville Presbyterian Church. Evan is certified as an Orff Level 1 and Kodaly Level 1 instructor. Evan lives in Fairfax with his partner, Karl and their dog, Dexter.

Zachary Gutierrez, Bass

Zachary Gutierrez has been singing with Lewinsville’s Chancel Choir since 2019. He has sung opera roles by Puccini, Purcell, Weill, and many others. Zachary serves as tenor section leader and also enjoys singing countertenor as well, with a particular affinity for early music. His other passions include healthcare, vocal pedagogy and holistic teaching.

The Lewinsville Cantorum is an advanced chamber choir made up of members of the Lewinsville Chancel Choir and our Chancel Quintet. Repertoire includes music of the Renaissance, Baroque, and contemporary. For more information, contact John Nothaft.

Special Performances

The Lewinsville Music Ministry supports special services and events, all free and open to the public. These include special worship services such as Anniversary and Reformation Sundays, Christmas, Easter, Lent and Bluegrass Sunday.  Further, Lewinsville's Music Ministry extends to the larger community through concerts and performances such as Holy Happy Hour, the Lewinsville Follies, a Salon Series, and Bachtoberfest.

Holy Happy Hour

Pipe Organ Duet: Wednesday, Septmber 24, 2026, 6:15 p.m. 
featuring Michael Cedrone, Director of Music, St. Luke Catholic Church, McLean and Lewinsville's own John Nothaft. Vienna Vitner brings a selection of wines thematically appropriate for the musical selections.

Michael Cedrone performs at September Holy Happy Hour.

Lewinsville’s Holy Happy Hour series strives to bring arts into the McLean and Tysons area. Concerts are free and open to the public with a themed reception to follow. Lewinsville has partnered with the local wine shop, Vienna Vintner, which will curate wines thematically appropriate for each concert. Wegmans has generously donated cheese, grapes, and charcuterie. Lewinsville's Holy Happy Hour series is a self-sustaining mission of Lewinsville's Music Fund.

John Nothaft  performs at September Holy Happy Hour.

Bachtoberfest

Sunday, October 12, 2025, 4 p.m. followed by German-themed Dinner Church service,6 pm.

Lewinsville's own Jonathan Dimmock will perform an all-Bach recital of works from the Clavier-Übung III. A reception will follow the program as well a 'German-themed' Dinner Church service. All are welcome to this free program hosted by the Lewinsville Music Fund.   To continue programs such as this there will be the opportunity to make a donation that supports the music program.

About Jonathan Dimmock - Bachtoberfest Soloist

With a personal focus on the healing quality of Beauty, Jonathan Dimmock is recognized internationally as a consummate artist, and his musicianship is enjoyed by at least 100,000 people each year. An innovative programmer, he designs and performs weekly programs for the Legion of Honor Museum, where he serves as Principal Organist, illustrating the correlation between art and music. He is also the Organist for the San Francisco Symphony, Music Director at Congregation Sherith Israel, and in constant demand as an organ accompanist. He is one of the few organists in the world to perform on six continents.

Anniversary Sunday

October 19, 2025 -- 11 a.m. Worship

Special music will help celebrate Lewinsville's 179th year.

Reformation Day at Lewinsville

Sunday, October 26,  2025, 11 a.m.
Celebrate Lewinsville's Scottish heritage ith Highland bagpipes.

Support the Music Fund

Lewinsville Presbyterian Church established a Music Fund managed and invested by the LPC Foundation in 1987.  The purpose of this fund is to establish a capital endowment—a source of funds beyond the annual budget, which is invested for the purpose of generating income to enhance and strengthen the music program at Lewinsville.  Anyone may make contributions to the Music Fund at any time.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when considering making Music Fund contributions:

1. Contributions to the Fund are tax-deductible and are considered outside of annual pledged giving to the general budget.
2. Contributions in any amount may be made to the Fund in the form of gifts or gifts that thank, honor or remember persons or ministries.
3. Contributions will be acknowledged with a letter from the Director of Music Ministries and listed in the Annual Report, unless requested to remain anonymous. Honorees and families of the memorialized will be notified.
4. Contributions may be made at any time by sending a check, made payable to the LPC Foundation with “Music Fund” noted on the check. If you would like to thank, honor or remember a person or ministry please indicate the name of the person/s or ministry on your check or in an accompanying note.
5. Checks may be mailed to The LPC Foundation, Lewinsville Presbyterian Church, 1724 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA 22101, or dropped in the collection plate on Sundays.
6. There is a button on Lewinsville's online depositing Vanco account to support Lewinsville's Music Fund.

Instruments used in worship include a 3-manual Gress-Miles pipe organ, a 1903 Steinway B Grand Piano, a 1919 Mason & Hamlin AA Piano, two five-octave sets of Malmark handbells, a set of Malmark handchimes, and an assortment of Orff Instruments.

Here you will find required forms, policies and registration forms for participating in the Lewinsville Music Ministry.  Music leaders will let you know which ones you need to download and complete.

• Letter to Volunteers
• Authorization for Background Check
• Gress-Miles Organ Specifications
• Register Your Child for Choir or Bells