Registration is open for a music workshop “Sing to the Rafters: Encouraging and Enriching Congregational Singing” for choir members to be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 42 East Main Street, Salem.

It will be led by noted African-American musician Dr. James Abbington and is open to singers of any age and level. The workshop will precede a Brotherhood Month concert to be held 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26 at Shiloh Baptist Church, 201 South Market Street, Salem. It is free and open to the public and will include selections from the two neighborhood choirs. The predominantly white Episcopal choir and the predominantly black Baptist choir will present three anthems from their own traditions, then mingle with others.

Abbington is nationally known in church music circles for his editing of a hymnal of spiritual songs of the African-American origin. Currently an associate professor of music and worship at Candler School of Theology of Emory University in Atlanta, he travels widely as a representative of GIA Publications which is sponsoring the workshop along with the two congregations.

The Episcopal choral and handbell choirs are directed by Rose Ann Burgess. Roscoe McFadden is music director at Shiloh Baptist.

For more information about the workshop, go to www.giamusic.com/aacms or call 1-800-442-1358. The $25 registration fee includes samples of church music.

Submitted by Frances Stebbins