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.

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.

We make music to praise and thank God.
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. Advanced Choristers sing at the 11:00 a.m. service once a month. Choristers meet on weekly Wednesdays, 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. (Blue levels) or 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. The choir gathers at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday morning to prepare to lead the 9:00 a.m. service. Rehearsals begin Wednesday, Sept. 9.

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 Royal School of Church Music "Voice for Life" advanced music skills are taught to interested choir members at 7:00 p.m. each Thursday. St. Paul's Choir Rehearsals are from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. 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 (9:45 p.m. on Christmas Eve) and 3:45 p.m. for Choral Evensong. Rehearsals begin Thursday, Sept. 10.

Gospel Choir (intergenerational) summer choir. With the more relaxed pace of summer, comes the more relaxed summer choir at St. Paul's. Music is hymn based and selected from the Episcopal Church Hymnal Lift Every Voice and Sing II. Singers gather around the organ console at 9:15 a.m. each Sunday in advance of the 10:00 a.m. summer 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 all 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, and a dress rehearsal preceding two annual concerts at St. Paul's. Voices audition from St. Paul's Choir and the greater Washington, D.C. region. Rehearsals begin Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009 for the fall and Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010 for the spring.

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 Wednesdays, 7:45 until 9:00 p.m. Rehearsals begin Wednesday, Sept. 9.

St. Paul's Saints and Singers support the music ministries of St. Paul's by offering logistic and financial support. To support the ongoing work of the choirs within the church and greater community consider making a financial contribution payable to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, with Saints and Singers clearly marked in the memo line. Or, to volunteer to support the logistics of the program contact Douglas A. Beck, organist and choirmaster.

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.

2009-10 EVENTS

Sept. 25, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Saints and Singers Celebrate: St. Paul's Choir CD Release/Rector's Birthday Bash
Home of John and Leslie Ariail

Nov. 1, 5:00 p.m.
Choral Evensong
The St. Paul's Choir

Dec. 5, 7:00 p.m.
Ars Choralis
Music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, George Frideric Handel
Audience Sing-a-long

Dec. 13, 11:00 a.m.
Advent Lessons and Carols
The St. Paul's Choir, St. Cecilia Choir and Good Shepherd Ringers

Dec. 20, 3:00 p.m.
Parish Family Concert and Blessing of the Greens
The St. Paul's Choir, St. Cecilia Choir, and Good Shepherd Ringers

Dec. 24, 6:00 p.m. (Choral Prelude at 5:30 p.m.)
Christmas Holy Eucharist with St. Cecilia Choir, St. Paul's Choir Women, Good Shepherd Ringers, and Parish Instrumentalists

Dec. 24, 11:00 p.m. (Choral Prelude at 10:30 p.m.)
Christmas Holy Eucharist with St. Paul's Choir, Instrumentalists

Jan. 10, 5:00 p.m.
Choral Evensong
The St. Paul's Choir

Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m.
Organ Plus (Instruments)
Sponsored by the Northern Virginia Chapter
of the American Guild of Organists

March 12-14
Treble Choir Festival (combined treble choirs)
Holy Eucharist, Sunday, 11:00 a.m.
Choral Evensong, Sunday, 5:00 p.m.

March 21, 11:00 a.m.
Choral Eucharist

May 2, 4:30 p.m.
Handbell Choir Festival Concert
St. John's United Methodist Church
5312 Backlick Road, Springfield, Virginia

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

June 6, 10:00 a.m.
Music Ministry Sunday

July 4, 11:30 a.m.
Fourth of July Organ Fireworks