Music In Our Worship
Music is a gift that takes us places where words alone cannot. As a congregation, we share a love of singing -and celebrating- a wide variety of musical styles that deepen our spirits, raise our souls, and bring us closer to God.
Our Choir
Although our worship typically includes traditional hymns, we often incorporate spiritual music of other cultures and a fascinating range of beautiful choral and instrumental pieces performed by our choir, other CHUCC members and/or guest artists who are part of the phenomenally talented community of singers and musicians living in the Portland area.
On any given Sunday, you are likely to hear anything from Amazing Grace, or A Mighty Fortress Is Our God... to choral and instrumental pieces by Bach or Vivaldi, to Joni Mitchell, Duke Ellington, Kermit the Frog, or Pink... all led by our wonderfully creative, talented and highly skilled Music Director, Colin Shepard.
Due to COVID-19 regular choir performance is currently on hiatus... but their active participation continues virtually through YouTube video - and most recently, low frequency FM radio technology.
Our Music Director
Colin Alexei Shepard is not only the Music Director and Conductor at Cedar Hills United Church of Christ, he is also an active collaborative pianist and music coach in the region.
As a musical director, guest artist, and keyboardist for professional musical theater productions in the region, Colin enjoys working with Portland's amazing regional arts organizations and universities.
Having received his Masters in Piano Performance at Portland State University, he was the Graduate Teacher’s Assistant at PSU for collaborative piano, accompanying and singing with the internationally-winning PSU Chamber Choir and their nationally-recognized opera studies program.
An ardent opera lover and coach, Colin has played piano in recital with MET Grammy-winner Audrey Luna with Portland Concert Opera, as well as pianist for master classes held by award-winning, MET opera singers Lawrence Brownlee, Frederica von Stade, Angela Meade, and Vinson Cole.
The past Principal Keyboardist with Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra, and former pianist for Opera Theater Oregon, Colin has recorded for the Oregon and Aurora Historical societies unearthing Edward Finck’s solo piano music. He has twice been heard playing solo piano on Portland's AllClassical FM radio station, and has accompanied and performed in over 600 recitals specializing in vocal collaborative piano.
Colin was also a studio pianist for Portland State University for 6 years, and maintains a private studio coaching professional singers as well as teaching privately.
In addition to being staff accompanist for the Portland Lesbian Choir and local dance company, he is the conductor for the several community choirs and co-director of Maybelle Community Singers.
