MusicChoral Groups | Bell Choirs | Music on Sundays | Music contacts | Events There are many ways to participate in making music at St. Stephen's. Choral Groups include St. Stephen's Choir for adults and teens; the St. Stephen's Singers, an all-ages choir; the Virginia Girls Choir for girls in grades 4 through 8; and the Palmer Hall Choir for younger children. There are also bell choirs--one for adults, and two for children. In addition, instrumentalists (particularly children and teens) are invited to explore the possibility of playing for the 9 a.m. Sunday service. Whether you play the guitar, the piano, the dulcimer, the flute or some other instrument, the 9 a.m. service is an opportunity for you to share your talent, offering a piece of music before or during worship. While budding Mozarts are welcome, it is not necessary that you have several years of study under your belt to offer a piece of music. Even if you have taken lessons for only a few years, you may have a tune or two which you are comfortable playing and can contribute to the service. Contact Dan Moriarty for more information. St. Stephen’s Choir is for professional and volunteer teen and adult singers with good sight reading skills and voices which blend in proficient ensemble singing and assumes the discipline of regular attendance at rehearsals and services. A simple audition/interview is required before acceptance into this choir. This group typically sings at the 11:15 Sunday service, and other St. Stephen’s Singers, a choir for all ages, meets at 8:15 on designated Sunday mornings, once or twice each month. Come and bring your son or daughter. Section leaders help volunteer singers in each vocal part, and the music selections are lovely without being too difficult. While no ongoing commitment or weeknight rehearsal is required, it is helpful for us to know if you plan to come. Please contact Dan Moriarty for information. In addition to these choirs, the St. Stephen's Choir is joined on occasion by guest singers for special performances. If you have choral experience but you are not able to commit to the choir on a regular basis, this opportunity is for you. Watch The Spirit (our monthly newsletter), eSpirit (weekly email) and Sunday bulletin inserts for announcements, or contact Dan Moriarty for information about participating. The Virginia Girls Choir leads Evensong each Wednesday evening during the program (academic) year, and sings at selected Sunday services and special events at church and throughout the community. This choir, which rehearses three evenings per week, draws girls from throughout the city. Read more here. The Palmer Hall Choir sings for weekly services in Palmer Hall Chapel. (The chapel was the original church building and is named for the Rev. Giles Buckner Palmer, Rector of St. Stephen’s from 1921-46.) Children who are able to read, through third grade, are welcome to sing in the choir which rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 5:15-6:00 and sings for services on Sunday mornings at 9:00. Contact Ashley Rotella, Director for more information on this choir. The Cherub Choir is for boys and girls in kindergarten and first grade. This choir rehearses on Wednesdays from 6:15 to 6:45 in the Palmer Hall Choir Room. Contact Ashley Rotella for more information on this choir.
There are two bell choirs for children and youth in the third grade or older: one for new and less-experienced ringers and one for those who have already rung bells. Rehearsals are currently scheduled on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. and 6:30 pm. Choirs ring in Palmer Hall and also periodically at the 11:15 service.
The Sunday evening service draws on quiet instrumental and vocal music not historically associated with typical Episcopal church worship. We use elements of Celtic and Taizé sources and utilize one or two instruments such as harp, guitar, hammered dulcimer, flute, or violin, with a cantor who leads congregational singing. Contact Michael Simpson for additional information. Read about St. Stephen's organ here. Dan Moriarty, Director of Music, 288-2867, ext. 347 Ashley Rotella, Palmer Hall and Cherub Choir Director, 288-2867 Susan Weis, Interim Bell Choirs Director, 475-2521 Our Artist-in-Residence for 2011-12 is Ana Hernandez. Read about special workshops and other musical offerings as a part of Ana's residency here. St. Stephen's will be the venue for an organ recital by Nathan Laube sponsored by the Richmond chapter of the American Guild of Organists at 7:30 p.m. on November 1. Read more about this recital on the AGO Richmond Web site here. |
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seasonal and special services that occur throughout the year. Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30. St. Stephen’s Choir has made several recordings which have been broadcast locally and nationally and have received favorable reviews in music and church related journals. They have toured locally and made one trip to England where they sang in Salisbury and Canterbury Cathedrals. Please contact Dan Moriarty for information.
