Music & Arts

Music and art are creative expressions of our faith.

We welcome all who wish to share their musical gifts and talents.

Adult Choirs

The Christ Church adult choirs offer an expansive repertoire covering a wide range of styles and languages from our classical choral heritage. With music led by Ben Outen, our traditional services offer a rich worship experience for parishioners of all ages.

Christ Church Choir

Rehearsals: Thursdays, 7 – 9 pm
Services: Sundays at 8:45 & 11:15 am (Holy Eucharist in the Church)

The Christ Church Choir comprises singers from all walks of life who share a common dedication to extraordinary music-making and to the role of choral singing within the Episcopal liturgy. For more information, contact Ben Outen.

Parish Choir

Third Sundays Monthly

The Parish Choir is a once-a-month opportunity to lead worship during the 8:45 am service without the weekly time commitment. No choir experience necessary – the music is chosen for the broadest range of musical experience. Join us on the third Sunday of most months, with one required rehearsal the Wednesday prior. For more information, contact Ben Outen.

Schola Cantorum

Rehearsals: Thursdays, 7 – 9 pm
Services: Sundays at 8:45 & 11:15 am (Holy Eucharist in the Church)
Individuals serve as cantors for the weekly 5 pm Eucharist. 

The Christ Church Schola Cantorum consists of vocalists who serve as Section Leaders alongside the volunteers of the Christ Church Choir. These singers may be seen throughout our city as leaders in other choral ensembles, opera, theatre groups, and in academic and other liturgical settings. To audition, contact Ben Outen.

Christ Church Choir Recordings

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

– Psalm 100:2

Contemporary Worship Band

Our Contemporary and Discovery worship services offer a casual environment with joyful music led by our worship band.

Contemporary and Discovery Worship Team

Sundays, 7:30 am – 12 noon in All Saints’ Hall
– 8:45 am Contemporary Eucharist
– 11:15 am Discovery Eucharist for families with young children

The contemporary worship team is led by Charles Milling. Charles brings together a family of contemporary musicians and singers who share a common heart for leading transformational worship in our community. Each Sunday service in All Saints’ Hall brings a warm, friendly, and informal joy that speaks directly to our mission: to engage, equip and empower people to love God, care for each other, and be Christ’s Church in the world. To join us in serving, contact Charles Milling.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

– Psalm 100:2

Youth & Children

Our children’s music ministries offer a fun, faith-based choral music education program, with an emphasis on the development of life-long skills and belonging to a church-centered community. It’s a wonderful way for children to explore their artistic abilities and discover the joys of teamwork and leadership.

Choristers learn to read music, vocal skills, and how to lead worship using the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) training program, led by our music staff. For more information, contact Associate Musician for Children, Katie Lehman at lehmank@christchurchcharlotte.org

Christ Church Choristers

Grades 3 – 8
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 5:30 – 6:30 pm, U302
Services: Participate in worship once monthly

Christ Church Choristers is based on the Royal School of Church Music training plan. Choristers prepare music for worship coupled with intentional instruction in sight-singing, vocal technique, and understanding of musical styles. Choristers take on leadership roles in the choir and in worship, where they become familiar with the liturgy as active participants in the service. 

St. Nicolas Choir

Grades 1 – 2
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 5:30 – 6:30 pm, U304
Services: Participate in Holy Eucharist in the Church once monthly

St. Nicolas Choir is based on the Royal School of Church Music training plan. Choristers prepare music for worship while learning the basics of music reading and developing healthy vocal skills they can use for a lifetime. In addition, singers learn about the liturgy and become leaders in worship through frequent participation in services. 

Music Club

Age 4 – Kindergarten
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 5 – 5:30 pm
Services: Participation in Discovery service (quarterly)

Children learn the basics of making music and healthy singing through age-appropriate play. Music Club is taught through the lens of the Kodály philosophy, with an emphasis on developmentally appropriate musical skills and lots of laughter! In addition to musical learning, singers experience what it is to be a part of a group, take turns, offer ideas, and express themselves. 

RSCM Ribbon Class

Wednesdays, 5 – 5:30 pm in U305
For participants in St. Nicolas Choir or Christ Church Choristers

Based on the Royal School of Church Music training plan, Ribbon Class is a time for children to explore basic music theory and grow as musicians together. Ribbon class is strongly encouraged and recommended for singers in Christ Church Choristers.

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Music & Arts Staff

We are seeking a full-time Associate Director of Music and Organist. Application deadline is April 30, 2024. View details here.

Ben Outen

Director of Music

After graduating from Yale and Furman Universities with degrees in organ performance and music theory, Ben came to North Carolina to serve as Organist and Choirmaster at First Presbyterian Church in Belmont. In 1992, he became Director of Music and Organist at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church where...

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Ben Outen

Ben Outen

Director of Music

After graduating from Yale and Furman Universities with degrees in organ performance and music theory, Ben came to North Carolina to serve as Organist and Choirmaster at First Presbyterian Church in Belmont. In 1992, he became Director of Music and Organist at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church where he was the Founding Director of The Choir School at St. Peter’s. Ben has toured England, France, and the U.S. extensively with his choirs and as an organist. While at St. Peter’s he led the church through the design and acquisition of a new organ, C.B. Fisk, Opus 136. He has served on the Board of Directors and led summer training courses for the Royal School of Church Music in America. In 2017 he became Director of Music and Organist at Christ Church where he works with a strong staff leading choirs of professional and volunteer singers, growing children’s choirs and supporting the contemporary music program to provide a broad range of music for worship.

Charles Milling

Director of Contemporary and Family Worship

A passionate and joyful worship leader with a tireless desire to make every service special, Charles brings his 35-plus years of versatility as arranger, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, producer, songwriter, and performer to each service. Having earned his associate in arts degree at NYU and...

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Charles Milling

Charles Milling

Director of Contemporary and Family Worship

A passionate and joyful worship leader with a tireless desire to make every service special, Charles brings his 35-plus years of versatility as arranger, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, producer, songwriter, and performer to each service. Having earned his associate in arts degree at NYU and Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance at Berklee College of Music, Charles has released one self-titled album and a recent single, produced albums for Fran McKendree, Kanuga, and other artists, worked as assistant producer on two Disney collections, and as the founder and creative director of the national music ministry, Live Hymnal. He served as Director of Contemporary and Youth Music for 17 years at his former parish, Saint Joseph’s in Boynton Beach, Florida, and currently enjoys side gigs directing music for Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's revivals and occasional conferences, diocesan conventions, camps, and concerts. His love and commitment of combining traditional and contemporary hymns for band and congregation shows in every service. Charles is married to Julie, and they have one son, Ellis.

Katie Lehman

Associate Musician for Children

Katie received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Mississippi and a Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Florida. In 2014, she received a Fulbright U.S. Student Program research grant to study at the Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute of the Liszt...

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Katie Lehman

Katie Lehman

Associate Musician for Children

Katie received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Mississippi and a Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Florida. In 2014, she received a Fulbright U.S. Student Program research grant to study at the Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute of the Liszt Academy of Music in Kecskemét, Hungary, earning a Diploma from the Institute, and earned her American Kodály certificate from the Kodály Institute at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She has served as the Lower School Music Specialist at National Presbyterian School in Washington, DC and at Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma, Washington. Katie spends her summers on faculty at the Carolina Kodály Institute, where she teaches solfège and musicianship, folk music analysis, and conducts the Institute choir. She has served as a guest clinician and workshop presenter in the Southeast and is an adjunct professor of music at Lenoir Rhyne University in Hickory. Katie resides in Charlotte with her husband Jonathan, son Austin, and two cats, Pop and Crackle.  

Lauren Tomme

Assisting Associate Musician for Children

Lauren completed her Bachelor of Music in Music Education at Florida State University in 2015 and graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2019 with her Master of Music in Opera Theater. During her time at Florida State and The University of South Carolina, she was involved in opera progra...

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Lauren Tomme

Lauren Tomme

Assisting Associate Musician for Children

Lauren completed her Bachelor of Music in Music Education at Florida State University in 2015 and graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2019 with her Master of Music in Opera Theater. During her time at Florida State and The University of South Carolina, she was involved in opera programs, performing lead roles. Lauren began teaching elementary music and voice in the fall of 2015 in Orlando, FL. In addition to her classroom teaching experience, she has also received training in vocal pedagogy and performance at Florida State University and the University of South Carolina. Lauren holds her Level I Orff Certification from The University of Central Florida and her North Carolina Teaching Certificate in K-12 music and currently resides in Davidson, NC, where she teaches general music at Cornelius Elementary. 

David Beard

Administrative Assistant for Music and Arts

A tenured music historian and writer, David’s love of music led him to develop a meaningful relationship with The Beach Boys, curating and reporting on their history for over 30 years. In addition to writing and designing two official Beach Boys tour programs and designing a VIP hardcover coffee ...

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David Beard

David Beard

Administrative Assistant for Music and Arts

A tenured music historian and writer, David’s love of music led him to develop a meaningful relationship with The Beach Boys, curating and reporting on their history for over 30 years. In addition to writing and designing two official Beach Boys tour programs and designing a VIP hardcover coffee table book, he continues to oversee creative direction of the group’s publication of record, Endless Summer Quarterly Magazine, now in its 37th year. In 2021 he reunited The Beach Boys and their children when co-producing a re-recording of the groups 1970 recording Add Some Music to Your Day with an accompanying music video that he directed to benefit Feeding America. The event was covered by Rolling Stone Magazine. David brings the same passion and commitment to his administrative role at Christ Church. He has witnessed firsthand the healing power of music, and is a firm believer in daily meditation and prayer. A Charlottean since 1979, David is married to wife Gretchen, and has one son, Ethan. 

Our Community Partners

Local arts groups we support

We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with local non-profit arts ensembles and arts education organizations by offering space for performances, rehearsals, and private and group lessons.