Over 30 years ago, Janice Mueller was visiting a church she had attended in Rhode Island. The choir director said, “We are singing Bach, just get a robe and join us.” That same choir director, after finding out that Janice and her husband were relocating to Charlotte said, “You have to sing at Christ Church.”  

And she has been singing in the choir for 33 years. “The choir is a family, a place where we can count on each other. Even the younger members see me as a person and not just that old lady.”  Janice says with a laugh.  

In addition to her voice, Janice is adding one more thing to the choir space – her art.  The new construction has meant that the choir room which previously had windows now has a large wall. Soon that wall will be adorned with a five-panel art piece created by Janice.  “My hope is that this painting inspires the joy of music.”  

The five wooden panels were prepared with a gold gesso. When getting ready to start adding paint, Janice invited Ben Outen, Director of Music, to make the first mark. Ben took large oil paint sticks and added red and orange to the gold panels. After making the first strokes, Ben sat down at the piano in Janice’s studio and played. The painting was already inspiring music. 

Janice shared that usually when she paints her studio is filled with music. Interestingly for this piece, she hasn’t been able to have music playing in the background. Perhaps after years of choir, she muses “the music might just be in my head” and heart.  

This painting will hang in the choir room as a gift to Christ Church. For Janice, “the creative is what convinces me that there is a God.”