Music & Arts : First United Methodist Church, Dallas

Music & Arts

In the Arts District of downtown Dallas, FirstChurch offers a thriving and diverse program of music and fine arts including choirs and handbell choirs for all ages, a theatre series producing three plays/musicals annually, and an art gallery with new exhibits every month. There is something for everyone who loves the arts and many ways to become involved both on stage and behind the scenes. For questions, contact Director of Music and Arts Dana Effler.

Choirs for Children & Youth

We share God’s gift of music with our children and youth in a variety of ways. Whether singing or playing an instrument, our children are instructed by music educators who are committed to providing a foundational sacred music education for our children in an engaging, safe and nurturing environment. Two handbell choirs, one musical ensemble and three choirs all rehearse on Sundays. Visit the Variations YouTube Channel to hear more of their music.

Choirs for Adults

The Chancel Choir sings for Sunday worship services and performs major choral works with orchestra. The Choir has toured to England, Canada, Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, France and Switzerland giving concerts in such hallowed sacred spaces as St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, St. Nicholas Church in Old Town Prague, and Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Two handbell choirs ring not only for worship services and concerts at FUMC, but also for handbell festivals and performances in the greater Dallas community and beyond. Visit the Chancel Choir YouTube Channel to hear more of their music. The Chancel Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings, and the handbell choirs rehearse on Sundays. Interested in singing? Click here.

Goodrich Gallery

The Goodrich Gallery enriches our church with exhibits featuring the work of gifted local artists. The Gallery is open on Sundays.

Upcoming Exhibit
November features paintings by Jessica Katina Kyle.

Jessica Katina Kyle was born in California. From an early age she demonstrated an innate artistic talent and continued to bring her creative passion to fruition. In 2009 she moved to Houston, Texas where she pursued an art education at the Art Institute of Houston. In 2011, she moved to Dallas, Texas where she currently resides.

In her practice, Jessica has explored self-acceptance and memory keeping through different materials and mediums. Rather than attempting to recreate an exact moment, she focuses on illuminating the elements of texture, colors, and emotions. Experimenting with odd materials to recreate moments lost in time gives range for new challenges and process to be discovered just as life moments pass by.

Inspired by her grandmother’s ability to cross stitch, and her mother’s creativity, Jessica continues the journey of self-exploration through painting materials and the recreation of moments in time on canvas.

Artist Statement

California girl at heart but raised in the south, I, Jessica Katina Kyle, found love for art through observation. Humans have five basic senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste. All of these can be understood and perceived through a painting when those elements are recreated with the tools of the earth. The challenge of recreation can be so vast yet so simple. Each layer, paint stroke, and medium playing a unique role in the perception of the overall moment for each individual fuels my practice & the thought of generations participating in a saved moments fuels my soul.

Upcoming Exhibits Make a Gallery Purchase

Rotunda Theatre

FirstChurch is home to the Wortley-Peabody Theatre, a fully-outfitted black box theatre that offers many opportunities both on stage and backstage for members and non-members who share a love of the theatre. The theatre is on hiatus due to COVID, but information will be posted when shows resume.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Tickets & Reservations

All shows requiring reservations will be performed in the Wortley-Peabody Theatre.

Maximum seating capacity for the Wortley-Peabody Theatre: 150

Free productions are produced in the sanctuary. *Sanctuary performance times may vary.

All performances begin at 7:30 p.m.*

Box office opens at 6:30 p.m.

Seating begins at 7:00 p.m.

Reserved seats will be held at time of ticketing.

All reservations must be claimed 10 minutes prior to curtain. Reservations not claimed by that time will be released for resale. We reserve the right to seat late arrivals during the first appropriate interval or not at all if no seats are available.

Unused reservations will not be credited toward future productions. No refunds for unused reservations.

During the first Saturday performance of each production in the Wortley-Peabody Theatre, free on-site childcare is provided by the Developmental Learning Center (DLC) which is licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Child-Care Licensing Division.

Reservations must be made at least one day prior to the performance. Please contact Tim Effler in Music and Arts at 214-220-2727, ext. 220.

Parking Information

Free parking is available at the meters after 6:00 p.m. Pay for parking in parking tower on the southeast corner of Harwood and San Jacinto.

For more information please contact Tim Effler in Music and Arts at 214-220-2727, ext. 220.