choirmaster

noun

choir·​mas·​ter ˈkwī(-ə)r-ˌma-stər How to pronounce choirmaster (audio)
: the director of a choir

Examples of choirmaster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web While working on his bachelor’s degree, he got hired as organist and choirmaster for Westminster Presbyterian Church and its roughly 2,000-member congregation in nearby Greensboro, and after graduating moved to the Gate City full-time. Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Feb. 2024 Presented in the Robert T. Anderson series sponsored by the Dallas Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, Tarrant is organist and choirmaster of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Detroit and a lecturer in organ at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Dallas News, 15 Feb. 2023 Sherilyn Stewart, the church’s organist and choirmaster since 2014, said the organ became far more difficult to play — its pedal board almost unusable — in the years prior to Jim’s work. Dallas News, 23 Nov. 2022 The National Confectioners Association says a choirmaster originally gave the red-and-white-striped candies to young children to keep them quiet during marathon church services. Lizz Schumer, Good Housekeeping, 23 Sep. 2022 Encouraged by her choirmaster (Eugenio Derbez), Ruby applies to a prestigious music school, only to be torn between the obligations of family and pursuing her own dreams. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Mar. 2022 Also set for this year’s ceremony is the Samples, a vocal group led by Kanye’s Sunday Service choirmaster Jason White. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2022 And just when the song is shepherding you softly to sleep, choirmaster Kirk Franklin brings the gospel choir in and kicks things up a notch. Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2021 When Edith Ho heard that the organist and choirmaster position was open at Boston’s Church of the Advent, her initial response was to send others to apply. BostonGlobe.com, 29 Aug. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'choirmaster.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of choirmaster was in 1840

Dictionary Entries Near choirmaster

Cite this Entry

“Choirmaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choirmaster. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

choirmaster

noun
choir·​mas·​ter -ˌmas-tər How to pronounce choirmaster (audio)
: the director of a choir
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