Willow Creek Presbyterian Church has a history of providing quality worship music using the resources with which God has blessed us. Historically there have been men’s glee club, children’s choir, guitar/folk groups, chancel choir, praise team, bell choir, women’s ensemble, men’s ensemble, quartets, duets, and solo vocalists and instrumentalists. We use digital keyboards, drums, organ, piano, hand bell, flute, trumpet, violin, cello, oboe, and any other instrument (including the voices) available to augment our worship. We invite touring musicians to provide variety to worship and special gatherings. And most of all we strive to utilize our members’ many musical talents.

Willow Creek is a member of the Stateline Ministerial Association, and as such participates in mass choir productions twice a year; on Thanksgiving Eve and Good Friday. These several churches combine to offer a meaningful worship experience through music and the Word for those holy days when individual churches do not have the means to support these gatherings on their own.

Our children/young people are often involved in the American Guild of Organists Youth Choir Festival held each year in February. Individual churches help their young people learn prescribed music and then a nationally known clinician comes in for a two day event, ending with a concert. More than 100 youth from over 15 churches in the Rockford area usually participate. They enjoy learning challenging music and experience worship through song as they could not in their individual churches.

The church is musically well equipped both with instruments and sound system.  The grand piano is a Japanese-made Yamaha Conservatory model, and the digital organ was built and installed by the Allen Organ Company in 2001.  The digital piano is a Yamaha CVP model Clavinova, and we own a 3 octave set of Schulmerich handbells.  The sound system was installed in 2007 and our members are most generous about sharing their personal amplifiers and instruments whenever asked.

The musical groups currently meeting at Willow Creek include:

Chancel Choir:

We have a 14 member choir which enjoys 4 part singing. The choir rehearses 1½ hours each week before worship. Special rehearsals are held when the music is especially demanding or during busy seasons of the church year. We sing a wide variety of styles including: Gospel, Contemporary, Jazz, Traditional and a little Classical. Chancel Choir sings at least 3 weeks per month. Members are very welcoming of new-comers and are very willing to help and encourage young singers. New choir robes were purchased in about 2003.

Willow Creek Ringers:

Eight members currently comprise this ensemble. It has been and continues to be a multi-generational group. Depending on our numbers and skill level each year, we ring two or three octave music ranging from level 1 to level 3.  Bell ringers rehearse weekly on Thursday evenings and perform about every 6-8 weeks. 

As our church population changes, so do our musical offerings. We try to make a “Joyful Noise” and celebrate God’s goodness with the resources He has given us.