Music Ministries at St. Paul’s engage the church and community.
St. Paul’s music ministries encourage participation from the pews to the musician’s gallery, offering opportunities for all ages and abilities to make music to the glory of God. We recognize the dynamic, affirming and worshipful act of music making as a gift from God that unifies, inspires, delights, expresses, comforts and challenges us. Music, along with all of our liturgical actions, shapes God’s people to live lives worthy of our calling through Jesus Christ our Lord. Through musical excellence, we proclaim the story of God’s mighty acts in all of creation, we affirm the word and sacraments of the church, we nurture relationships with God and one another and we open our doors to the world through our liturgies and concerts. Everyone at St. Paul’s actively participates in music making, from the pews to the music gallery, in the celebratory act of praising and thanking God.

Joining a choir/handbell ensemble, playing a musical instrument during a liturgy, or joining the monthly contemplative prayer/music session, “Music and Spirit,” is easy and the rewards are eternal. There are no applications or forms to complete. Participation is easy as just showing up. No previous experience is necessary. There is an opportunity for nearly every age and all abilities are welcome. Through music we understand our role as ministers to the church and the world. A commitment to regular participation and a willingness to learn and grow are expected. There is an opportunity for nearly every age and all abilities are welcome.

Liturgies and concerts grow relationships with God and one another. Music and Spirit Healing Service and Contemplative Prayer bring together the ancient worship elements of the Daily Office of Compline incorporating contemporary music from the Taize and Iona traditions, intercessory prayer, sacred scripture, healing rite and periods of silence. Sessions take place in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd on the second Wednesday of the month, September through May, from 7:45 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

Choral Evensong is a sung service by clergy and the choir with a tradition steeped in the history of the monastic and collegiate traditions of the Anglican Church. Following the form for Evening from the Book of Common Prayer, the service embodies the corporate prayers of those assembled on behalf of God’s universe. Choral Evensong takes place on four Sundays each season at 5:00 PM.

Concerts celebrate the gifts of God’s people at St. Paul’s. Special 30-minute organ recitals by area organists take place every Thursday at noon during the holy seasons of Advent and Lent.

September 10, 7:30 p.m. Music and Spirit

October 19, 3:00 p.m. Organ Recital celebrating the 40th Anniversary of our Casavant Pipe Organ and the International Year of the Organ

November 2, 7:00 p.m. All Saints Choral Concert by Ars Choralis

November 9, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Introduction of St. Paul’s Bicentennial Service Music composed by Dr. William Bradley Roberts of Virginia Theological Seminary

November 9, 5:00 p.m. Choral Evensong

November 12, 7:30 p.m. Music and Spirit

December 4, 11, 18 Noon Advent Organ Recital

December 10, 7:30 p.m. Music and Spirit

December 14, 11:00 a.m. Service of Advent Lessons and Carols

January 11, 5:00 p.m. Choral Evensong

January 14, 7:30 p.m.Music and Spirit

February 11, 7:30 p.m. Music and Spirit

March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2, 9, 16 Noon Lenten Organ Recitals

March 7, 7:00 p.m. Handbell Choir Festival Concert featuring the adult handbell choirs of St. John’s United Methodist Church, McLean; Fairlington United Methodist Church, Alexandria and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Alexandria.

March 8, Choral Evensong

March 11, 7:30 p.m. Music and Spirit

March 29, 11:00 a.m. Choral Eucharist

April 8, 7:30 p.m. Music and Spirit

April 18, 7:00 p.m. Ars Choralis Choral Concert

May 2, 2:00 p.m. Music Scholars Recital/Music Ministry Celebration

May 10, 5:00 p.m. Choral Evensong

June 14, 3:00 p.m. Choir “Bon Voyage” Concert to launch St. Paul’s England pilgrimage

May 13, 7:30 p.m. Music and Spirit

We make music to praise and thank God.
Cherub Choir (Grades Pre-K through 2) is directed by a St. Paul’s Music Associate meeting each Sunday from 10:00 until 10:45. This choir encourages music making in body, mind and spirit through singing and color-coded handbell ringing. Cherub Choir is where faith formation and music making come alive in fun and fascinating ways for our youngest choristers. The Cherub Choir sings two Sundays monthly at alternating services.

St. Cecilia Choir (Grade 3 through changed voices) is an affiliate graded choir program of the Royal School of Church Music training scheme, “Voice for Life.” The St. Cecilia Choir leads worship at the 9:00 a.m. Sunday service from September through May. Choristers are encouraged to attend RSCM training courses offered throughout the country each summer. The St. Cecilia Choir recently appeared in a special concert at St. Paul’s with the American Boy Choir. Choosing to attend one of two rehearsal times each week in addition to attendance in the St. Cecilia Choir Sunday School class maximizes participation, learning and growth. Choristers attend either or both weekly rehearsals Wednesday, 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. and/or Saturday, 10:00 to 11:15 a.m. The choir gathers at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday morning to prepare for the 9:00 a.m. service.

St. Paul's Choir (changed voices through adult) leads the 11:00 a.m. Sunday liturgy from September through mid-June in addition to Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week and Choral Evensong services. Advent Lessons and Carols is sung on Advent III and a sung mass is presented one Sunday in Lent. The St. Paul’s Choir is preparing for a singing tour in England in June 2009. The Royal School of Church Music “Voice for Life” is taught to interested choir members at 7:00 p.m. each Thursday. St. Paul’s Choir Rehearsals are from 7:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. Thursday evenings followed by Choir Happy Hour. Service preparation begins at 10:15 a.m. each Sunday for the 11:00 a.m. liturgy; 6:30 p.m. for weeknight services and 3:45 p.m. for Choral Evensong/

Gospel Choir (intergenerational) summer choir. With the more relaxed pace of summer, comes the more relaxed Summer Choir at St. Paul’s. English Hymn-writer Isaac Watts is considered the "father of spirituals and Gospel music" in this country. This music is the theme for the Gospel Choir that will meets in the musician’s gallery at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday in advance of the 10:00 a.m. service. This is a perfect opportunity for both eager and reluctant singers of all ages to join together, leading the church’s song. Gospel Summer Choir is a great activity, not only for our regular choir members, but also for those who want to know more about music at St. Paul’s and those who do not have the time to make a full choir commitment. All are welcome to sing for one or many Sundays in the summer.

Ars Choralis (adults) St. Paul’s resident community choir of up to 44 voices. Repertoire spans the timeless choral music of sacred traditions. There are an average of ten Tuesday rehearsals, 7:45 p.m. until 9:45 p.m., one sectional rehearsal, one Saturday morning retreat and a dress rehearsal preceding two annual concerts at St. Paul’s. Members will travel with the St. Paul’s Choir to England in June, 2009. Voices audition from St. Paul’s Choir and the greater Washington, D.C. region.

Generations (Grade 3 through adult) formerly known as the Youth Handbell Ensemble, is an intergenerational handbell choir incorporating all ages and backgrounds in the unifying act of ringing music. This is a challenging and fun ensemble incorporating games like “handbell relay race” and the like into an experience that prepares ringers to accompany choirs/hymns as well as ring voluntaries in occasional services and concerts. Generations is an opportunity to include the church’s youth in full participation of the church’s liturgies and concerts with our entire faith community. Rehearsals are Wednesdays from 4:45 p.m. until 5:45 p.m. The ringers play two Sundays each month in alternating services.

Good Shepherd Ringers (Grade 9 through adult) participate in Sunday liturgies twice monthly, Advent Lessons and Carols, and Christmas Eve at the 6:00 p.m. Each spring, the Good Shepherd Ringers travel to Ocean City, MD where they participate in the two-day American Guild of English Handbell Ringers Region III Festival. Rehearsals are Sundays, 12:30 until 1:30 p.m.

Music Scholars at St. Paul’s grant ten scholarships to those involved in the St. Cecilia Choir, Generations, Good Shepherd Ringers or St. Paul’s Choir who wish to receive weekly lessons on the piano and/or pipe organ January through May and September through December. Lessons are taught on Monday afternoon s.. There is currently a waiting list for scholarships. Scholars agree to receive one weekly lesson, practice regularly and actively participate in one or more music ensembles. Each year the scholars may take part in playing during services and perform in a Scholars Recital during Music Ministry Celebration weekend.

Musical instrumentalists from the congregation often make melody to the Lord in liturgies with their musical instruments as soloists, in ensembles and with congregational sing. To offer your skill, express your interest to the Organist-Choirmaster.