Broad Street Presbyterian Church is committed to offering high quality music and liturgy for worship, representing the finest historic traditions to the best of modern composers and authors. The Broadstreet Choir was founded in 1934 by Herbert Huffman, who, in 1937, also founded the Columbus Boy Choir, now the American Boychoir in Princeton, N.J. Under the current leadership of Music Director Joel A. Mathias, the Broadstreet Choir rehearses Thursday evenings from 7:15 – 9:00 and childcare can be arranged. Performances of Handel’s "Messiah" are scheduled every other year and extensive music services are presented the Sunday before Christmas and in the spring. In addition, the church’s music program includes choirs for children and youth through high school and an adult handbell choir. A music specialist works with the very youngest children in their church school classes each week.

        For weekly services, Broad Street Organist James D. Hildreth accompanies the Broadstreet Choir and offers a wide range of organ repertoire from ancient to contemporary during 10-minute preludes, as well as improvised postludes. In addition, he offers a half-hour recital prior to the annual Christmas Eve service. Broad Street also hosts 2 or 3 guest organists of national and international acclaim in recital each season.

History of the Organ

        The sanctuary pipe organ also plays an active role in the worship and musical life of Broad Street Church. It was originally built in 1937 by the M.P. Moller Company of Hagerstown, Maryland. The organ had 4 manuals (keyboards) and a pedal board, with 66 ranks (sets) of pipes. It was rebuilt in 1986 by the Schantz Organ Company of Orville, Ohio, and is one of the finest pipe organs in Central Ohio. New cantilevered cases were constructed on either side of the beautiful west Tiffany window, and a set of brass Trompette en Chamade pipes was placed horizontally over the east entrance doors in the back of the sanctuary. The new console has 4 manuals and a pedal board, controlling 66 ranks; there are more than 4,000 pipes located in the two cantilevered cases and two large chambers above the north and south choir lofts. A new Peterson combination system was installed in 2001; with its 99 levels of computer memory and a piston sequencer, organists have almost unlimited control over the many stops and controls.