About Music Ministry

The Music Ministry at St. Michael’s is a strong and vital part of the life of the church. It incorporates individualized vocal training, choir retreats, outreach to other communities both local and abroad and a sense of true ministry to all in leading and inspiring our worship together of Almighty God. The choir has sung in the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C., and in several Cathedrals in England, including Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s. Entrance into all groups, except Angels Choir, is by a simple audition. The Music Department year generally runs from the first Sunday in September through the second Sunday in June.

Click Here for the official St.Michael’s Music Department Website
Click Here for the Music Department Calendar

Choirs and Musical Groups

Adult Choir

A committed group of singers who rehearse once a week for two hours and sing each Sunday during the Music Dept. year. Retreats are held twice a year.

Youth Choir

A group of children, boys and girls together, aged second grade (good readers) thru middle school. The choir rehearses twice a week, sings each Sunday of the Dept. year, and also sings the service of Evensong on the last Wednesday of each month, Sept. thru May. Private training is offered to each member using the Chorister Training Scheme of the Royal School of Church Music. Two retreats a year are organized for this choir.

MUSIC MINISTRY

The music program at St. Michael’s comprises four singing groups and two instrumental groups. The program is directed by Andrew Walker, B.Mus. He received his training at Portsmouth Cathedral and London University.

Chamber Singers

A select group of singers taken from the Adult Choir. Entrance is by a further, more demanding audition. The group sings mainly “a cappella” music of the 16th, 17th, and 20th centuries. They rehearse once a week, and sing once or twice a month during communion. They are the sole choir each year for the very moving and dramatic service, the Easter Vigil.

Angel Choir

A choir for children aged three thru first grade. They rehearse once a week for half an hour, and sing once a month in church before a Sunday Service. The accent is on the fun and enjoyment of singing together.

Instrumentalists

Open to all members of the parish skilled and brave enough on guitar or on an orchestral/band instrument to play along with hymns and other items during church services.

Carillonneurs

Open to all members of the parish of all ages, who can, at the minimum read and “one finger” a melody on a keyboard.

6PM Band

For the past two years a small group of musicians from the parish has come together to add more variety and sound-textures to the music for our 6:00 PM Sunday service. When everyone is there, we have keyboards, hand percussion, guitar, and bass guitar. We all sing. The group was conceived as a pool of players, in order that no one would feel obligated to be there every Sunday. To that end, we are always looking for new members to come and play! The band also occasionally plays for special Coffee Hours after the 10:15 morning service.

Keyboard Quartet

This group was put together to provide additional instrumental sounds for special services and festivals. Using a standard Yamaha type electronic keyboard, and players who, whilst they may not be able to play two hands at once, do have the skills to play ONE hand, we have been able to produce a brass quartet and timpani, a string quartet, and there is the potential to have a wind quintet, plus whatever other acceptable sounds there are on the keyboards. It is another opportunity for members of the parish who may have had a little piano training in their youth, to experience the joy of making music with others.