The Mass Choir is composed of members of all other New Zion choirs but anyone with the desire to worship through song is welcome to participate. The mass choir usually serves on 5th Sundays and for special events such as the Church Anniversary, Homecoming and revivals. Rehearsals are called on an as-needed basis. Maria Norman normally serves as musician for the Mass Choir with Jean Cary directing.

Members of The Senior Choir

The New Zion Baptist Church Senior Choir was reorganized in 1952 under the pastorate of the late Dr. Junius H. Moody. When the choir was reorganized in 1952, there were 21 members.  Over the years, we have been blessed with dedicated and committed musicians. Our current musicians are Deacon James Armstead (Guitar), Sister Helena Jones (floutist), Brother Bobby Whitehead (keyboards), Brother Matthew Whitehead (drums) and Dr. Jocelyn Henry-Whitehead who serves as choir directress, harpist and bassist and pianist.

The Senior Choir has been, and continues to be involved in numerous outreach projects. The choir has ministered in music to convalescent homes and has assisted needy families in our community.  Each year for the past nine years, we have donated our anniversary offerings to assist the Salvation Army, to purchase medication for senior citizens, to assist with Alzheimer's research, and contribute clothes and food donations to Rev. Mary Ellis and Operation Hope Ministries. The Senior Choir has collaborated with The College of William & Mary in support of Project Hope; an outreach effort that assists children who are homeless with their needs. As a result, the choir has donated clothes, school supplies such as notebook paper, pencils, folders, and backpacks to several children in the Homeless Education Project. The Senior Choir has also financially supported an outreach project with Missionary Miranda Cole and her work in Haiti, and assisted with food outreach projects coordinated by the Deaconess and Missionary Ministries and FISH. On a yearly basis, the choir continues to explore additional projects for our ministry.

Virginia Allen
Senior Choir President

Members of The Voices of Zion

COME SING WITH US

The Voices of Zion serves on 3rd Sundays

JMaria Norman
Pianist

Jean Cary
Director

The Brethren Chorale was initiated from a group of 19 men who  came together in 1995 to form a Men’s Day chorus under the leadership of the late Willis T. Hayes Jr.  The group performed for the first time on March 26, 1995. The spirit, inspiration, and energies that came out of that service inspired and encouraged the men to stay together as a musical group. In May of that year, the church made the decision to include the newly formed group as a regular worship service choir that would serve on 4th Sundays. The group later decided to assume the name “The Bretheren Chorale” and performed it’s first service duty on June 25, 1995.

In addition to providing music for morning worship on the assigned Sundays, The Brethren  Chorale as a group is involved in numerous community service project. To name a few, they provide food baskets for needy families, visit area nursing homes, sponsor the church’s annual William & Mary Day activities and assist with beautificatiion of the church cemetery.

The current musical artistic team consists of  father and son Edgar Randall, director and drummer, and Bryan Randall, keyboardist with James Armstead supporting on guitar.

Edgar Randall
Director

To Join our fellowship! please contact Deacon Edgar Randall, Director, or see any member of the Brethren Chorale.

 We would love to have you in our ranks!

Edgar Randall
Drums

James Armstead
Guitarist

Members of The Brethren Chorale

Bryan Randall
Keyboardist

“Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed  lyre.  Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.”   Psalm 33  2-3

The Ada Imani Harp Ministry is a component of the Music Ministry at New  Zion Baptist Church. In 1999, two lever harps were donated to New Zion  by a community benefactor and her family. The original intent of the  gift was to provide free harp lessons to youth both in the church and  community. Over the years, several adults have also shown a strong  interest in learning to play the harp. Consequently, the Ada Imani Harp  Ministry has evolved into providing free harp lessons to both youth and  adults.

A harp is a musical instrument in which strings, sounded by plucking, run between a neck and a sound box (also called the body or resonator). The strings run perpendicular to the sound box (instead of parallel, as on a guitar).

The harp lessons are provided by Dr. Jocelyn H. Whitehead, First Lady of  new Zion Baptist Church, or one of her graduates; Jerolene Brown, Douglas Brown Sr. or LaWanda Carroll. The 7 week course take place once a week and are about 45 minutes in duration. Students may practice at their leisure during church office hours. The harpists are often called upon to  provide meditative music during selected or requested worship services,  Bible Study, funerals, weddings, convalescing centers, and community  events.

Ada Imani Harp members perform for Ash Wednesday  service

Dr. Jocelyn H. Whitehead
Ministry Leader