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.

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. 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
September features Oils, Watercolors & Mixed Media by Mo Sanford.

Mo Sanford was born and raised in Pittsburgh PA, where she pursued her passion for the arts at a very early age. She attended Carnegie Mellon University Tam-O-Shanter classes for 10 years from the age of 7 and then attended Indiana University and The Art Institute of Pittsburgh for her degrees. Mo has worked locally for 28 years, both freelance and on staff, most notably with Tracy-Locke BBDO, and now produces works by commission and various show invitations. She has shown works at venues such as Park Cities Presbyterian Church and at our FUMC Goodrich Gallery where she was awarded First Place in the “First Fruits” exhibit. Mo is a member of FAITH Artists and regularly shows her work in and around North Texas with her works hanging in many notable homes and offices around Dallas. She considers creativity her calling and it is in gratitude to God and her family and friends that she dedicates this show.

Artist Statement
My artwork is an attempt to reflect the grace and mercy I have been given. To create is always an opportunity to give back, to be grateful and to encourage others, all while glorifying the Giver and True Creator while doing so. Since excellence is the currency of heaven and only beauty can bring about justice, those are the attributes I cling to when I work. I actively try to engage the truth as it has been revealed to me. My goal is to have deeper conversations internally and externally with the viewer rather than just a passing glance or trend. For me, what I am called to do is “sacred” so it is in that spirit I present my work to you and look forward to worshiping creatively with you.

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.