Westwood Presbyterian Church

Worship at WPC

Join us as we celebrate the glory of God! Our worship is Reformed, our preaching is both inspiring and challenging, our hymns and choral music are traditional. We come into God’s presence with humility and openness to hear God’s word and respond in ways that transform our lives, allowing us then to be a part of God’s intended transformation of our world. We seek always to be joy-filled, thoughtful, authentic, engaging and participative. “In worship the faithful offer themselves to God and are equipped for God’s service in the world.” Book of Order. WPC celebrates the glory of God through Reformed worship, thought-provoking sermons and traditional church music. Sunday worship services are held at 10:00 a.m.

Music in Worship

WPC is blessed with a rich heritage in sacred classical music. “Song is a response which engages the whole self in prayer,” states our Book of Order. Indeed, prayerful reflection and joyful expression are at the core of our music program. WPC’s music encompasses traditional hymns, anthems, and spirituals sung by the congregation and the Chancel Choir. Among the beautiful traditions of WPC are the processionals, introits, and sung responses of the Chancel Choir or Chamber Singers. Often, the Westwood Brass Ensemble, Westwood Chamber Orchestra, or members of the congregation will add to the festive service with instrumental music.

WPC’s youth and children’s choirs perform regularly during the year providing young people with the opportunity to sing God’s praises. Full youth musicals—featuring original and new compositions—and the annual Christmas Pageant are high points for families in the WPC year.

Chancel Choir

WPC has a long tradition of excellence in liturgical choral music. The choir meets for rehearsal Thursday evenings from 7:30–9:30 pm in the Choir Room and/or Sanctuary. Those who enjoy singing and wish to experience the joy of working within an ensemble are welcome to become part of the Chancel Choir, which sings at the 10:00 am worship service and during special services and concerts. The Chancel Choir serves as a highly meaningful component of worship. If you are interested in joining the Chancel Choir, please contact our Director of Music, Dan Redfeld at dredfeld@westwoodpres.org.

Music at Westwood

Music at Westwood is a program of sacred concert music that has been in existence at Westwood Presbyterian Church since 1997. We strive to present both old and new classical works in a setting that brings one closer to God through sharing the joy of music.

Mission Statement
The mission of Music at Westwood is to keep sacred and classical music accessible and alive in our community.

Learn More: Visit the Music at Westwood Page

WPC Music Department

Dan Redfeld
director of Music

We welcome Dan Redfeld to our WPC family and to his new role as our Director of Music. Dan brings 15 years of experience directing church choirs, both in Culver City and Pasadena. Having stepped away a few years ago, Dan began to feel the “itch” to get back at it last Christmas Eve, when he realized how much he missed participating in the richness of the church’s Christmas choral tradition. Not only is Dan an experienced church musician, he is an award-winning composer, conductor, orchestrator, pianist and producer. Dan received his training at Boston’s New England Conservatory before transferring to UCLA, where he graduated with a degree in composition with an emphasis in conducting. Dan is married to renowned violinist, Elizabeth Hedman, whom we look forward to meeting someday soon. For more information about Dan, visit www.danredfeld.com.
elias berezin
tenor

Elias debuted with the Pacific Lyric Association as both Eisenstein and Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus and returned to Guild Opera for role debuts as Ferrando in Cosí fan tutte and Borsa in Rigoletto. An active proponent of new music, Berezin created two leading roles as Autumn in Joseph-Nathaniel Cuenca's SCHISM in conjunction with UCR Arts, and The Inventor in Ian Dicke's ROMAN with Synchromy at Pasadena's Boston Court Theater. Upcoming performances include a role debut as Cavaradossi in Guild Opera's production of Tosca. Recent concert performances saw recorded recital appearances with the Verdi Chorus filmed during the pandemic and the tenor solos in Mozart's Coronation Mass and Haydn's The Creation with the Palisades Symphony. Berezin has appeared as a young artist with Source Song Festival, Songfest, and the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, and was a recent finalist in auditions for the GRAMMY-award winning group Chanticleer. He holds an M.M. from the University of Redlands and maintains an active studio.
emerson boatwright
tenor

Emerson Boatwright is an actor, singer, and voiceover actor, and teaching artist living in Los Angeles. He was trained at Columbia College in Chicago in Vocal Performance and Music Composition. He moved to New York and eventually trained with Ryan Scott Oliver and Lindsay Mendez in Musical Theatre Performance. He has also found success in regional theatres in Los Angeles such as The Rockwell, Candlelight Pavilion, Musical Theatre West and others. Some favorite credits include UMPO: A League of their Own, Spamalot, The Producers, and Young Frankenstein. He has also sung with the California Philharmonic Chorale and The Donald Brinegar Singers. He is thrilled to be joining the WPC Choir as Tenor Section leader!
CHRISTINA BORGIOLI
SOPRANO

American soprano Christina Borgioli earned a BM and MM in vocal performance from the prestigious vocal music program at UCLA. In 2009, she earned her Professional Studies Diploma from Mannes College of Music at The New School in New York. During her time in New York, Ms. Borgioli had the privilege to participate in a special student-mentor program with acclaimed soprano Deborah Voigt. As an esteemed soloist for the “Music at Westwood” Concert Series at Westwood Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, Ms. Borgioli’s resonant, pure solo lyric soprano voice has been featured in Vivaldi’s Gloria, Schubert’s Mass in G, Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, Handel’s Messiah, and many cantatas of J.S. Bach. Her oratorio repertoire also includes the soprano soloist in Poulenc’s Gloria, Rutter Requiem, and Rossini Stabat Mater. A favorite collaborator amongst her colleagues in the world of opera, Ms. Borgioli has performed the lead roles of Blanche in Dialogues of the Carmelites (Poulenc), Violetta in La Traviata (Verdi), and Miss Wordsworth in Albert Herring (Britten), among many others. Ms. Borgioli is a long standing member of the Los Angeles Opera Chorus.
devon davidson
soprano

Devon is honored to be joining this wonderfully talented choir at WPC! Devon is both a full-time mom and a full-time singer. She currently sings soprano with the Metropolitan Mater Chorale, and she can be seen singing at Disneyland with the Goodetime Carolers, The Sweethearts and The Skeletones. Devon also sings with the renowned jazz band Sascha’s Bloc, and she recently had the privilege of being featured in the Sascha’s Bloc album Club Rendezvous, with Matthew Morrison and Nikki Lorenzo. Recent musical theatre credits include Beauty and the Beast – “Babette” Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – “Wailing Wife” The Marvelous Wonderettes – “Cindy Lou” Company – “Jenny” It’s Only Life – “Woman 2” Sweeney Todd – “Johanna” Snow White, an Enchanted Musical – “Snow White” Oklahoma! – “Laurie” Reading Together with Belle – “Belle”. Twitter
Emily Kerrigan
alto

Emily Kerrigan is a versatile operatic and vocal chamber performer noted for "the strength and cutting edge of her mezzo-soprano" (South Florida Classical Review). Emily has sung with companies such as Pacific Opera Project, UCLA Opera, UCR Arts, Mission Opera, and Vox Viceralis Opera. Ms. Kerrigan made her Mozart Requiem debut in the Alto Soloist at the University of La-Crosse, and is an auxiliary member of the Los Angeles Master Chorale and Tonality. She has been a studio artist at the Aspen Music Festival Opera Theater Center, the Miami Music Festival, and has performed alongside “Seraphic Fire” in the AMF's Professional Choral Institute. Ms. Kerrigan holds her Bachelor of Arts in Music from the Herb Alpert School of Music (UCLA).
Matthew lewis
bASS-bARITONE

Matthew graduated from California State University of Northridge in 2017 with a BM in vocal performance. There he studied classical voice under Dr. David Sannerud. He has performed in multiple operas and sung roles such as “Seneca” in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea, “Zuniga” in Bizet’s Carmen, “Mr. Gobineau” in Menotti’s The Medium, and the “Commendatore” in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. He also was given scholarship to participate in a two and a half week vocal program in Trossingen, Germany, that took place during the summer of 2015 and focused primarily on the study and performance of the German Art Song repertoire. Matthew has performed in multiple oratorio settings such as the Mozart Requiem, the Faure Requiem, and Handel’s Messiah. He writes original music to sing and play on the banjo and even instructs his own banjo students from time to time. He looks forward to learning new music as well as old music in the years to come.

Weddings

Westwood Presbyterian Church is available to all who wish a Christian marriage service.

The use of the church is governed by the church session.

Preliminary information regarding the scheduling of dates, use of church facilities, and related costs should be obtained from the church office prior to a conference with the pastor.
A WPC minister must officiate at the wedding ceremony. The couple is required to have two meetings with the officiating pastor to consider together the spirituality of marriage, hear the report of premarital counseling, and to prepare for the wedding ceremony. In some situations, a request for a non-staff clergy person to assist our pastor in the service might be granted.The couple is required to receive 3 - 6 sessions of premarital counseling with a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Clinical Psychologist or Pastoral Counselor. Fees for premarital counseling shall be the responsibility of the couple. While couples are free to seek their own counselors, a list of recommended professionals will be included in the information packet.
To ensure that nothing will detract from the solemnity of the wedding service, No flash photography is permitted during the service by guests or by your photographer. Time-exposure photos from the balcony are permitted. Video taping is permitted subject to the unobtrusive placement of the camera operator. No additional lighting or flashes may be used during the service.
The church will be available to the florist, photographer, and others one and one-half hours before the scheduled time of the wedding.

A $150 non-refundable sanctuary deposit will hold the date. The balance is due at rehearsal.

There is no fee schedule for the minister's services; however, it is customary to give the officiating minister an appropriate honorarium.

Church ministers: Rev. Dr. Christine Chakoian, Rev. Mark Jones, and Rev. Paula Mann

Next Steps

Email your wedding request to office@westwoodpres.org or call (310) 474-4535 to set up a walk-thru.
Once your deposit has been received and the date has been added to the church calendar, Fill out the Wedding Service Preparation Form and email it to office@westwoodpres.org or mail it to 10822 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90024

Funerals

In times of death, the church community gathers to support the grieving, celebrate the life of the deceased, and affirm our Christian hope in the life to come. When a loved one dies, please contact the church office (310) 474-4535 or office@westwoodpres.org to begin the process of arranging for a funeral or memorial service.

O Lord: support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work too will be done. Then, in your mercy, grant us safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last; through Jesus Christ. Amen.