Volunteerism and Community Music-Making in Nigerian Church Choirs: A Study of the Anglican Diocese of Evo

Volunteerism remains one of the most significant pillars sustaining religious institutions across Nigeria, particularly within church music ministries where members offer their time, skills, and resources without financial compensation. This study examines the intersection of volunteerism and community music-making in the Anglican Diocese of Evo, Rivers State, Nigeria. The research investigates the motivations behind voluntary participation in church choirs, the role of choir activities in fostering community engagement and social cohesion, and the challenges affecting the sustainability of volunteer-based music ministries. Drawing on Community Music Theory and Social Capital Theory, the study adopts a qualitative research approach involving interviews, participant observation, and documentary analysis among choir members, choir directors, clergy, and church administrators in selected parishes of the Diocese. The findings reveal that volunteer participation in church choirs is largely motivated by spiritual commitment, a sense of religious calling, opportunities for fellowship, personal musical development, and the desire to contribute to congregational worship. The study further demonstrates that choir activities function as important forms of community music-making, creating spaces for social interaction, cultural transmission, collective identity formation, and informal music education. Choir participation strengthens interpersonal relationships among members, promotes social capital, and facilitates the preservation of indigenous musical expressions within Anglican worship traditions. Despite these contributions, volunteer choristers face several challenges, including financial burdens associated with transportation and uniforms, limited access to musical resources, increasing occupational demands, and declining youth participation. The study argues that church choirs in the Anglican Diocese of Evo serve not only as liturgical ensembles but also as community institutions that foster social integration, spiritual growth, and cultural continuity. The article concludes that strengthening volunteer support systems, investing in music education, and promoting youth engagement are essential for sustaining community music-making within Anglican churches. The study contributes to scholarship on church music, volunteerism, and community development by highlighting the social and cultural significance of volunteer choir participation in contemporary Nigerian Christianity.