Music at St. John's
Music is an integral part of the Sunday 11:00 a.m. service year-round. We have great organ music, congregational singing of hymns and psalms, all supported by the playing of our organist/choirmaster Gordon King on our Rieger Organ. (For details of the organ and it's history, click here.)
From late September to mid-June, St. John's Choir provides support to the congregational singing and anthems and chant that enrich the liturgy. During this time you can display the titles of the scheduled music for a particular Sunday by clicking on "11 am Eucharist with Music" in the Worship Services schedule, or, for a complete listing of the lSpring 2018 schedule, click here.
During the "choir season" St. John's Choristers, a group of children, receive musical training and contribute music for some services.
The St. John's Choir
Supporting the worship from the choir loft are about twelve men and women, amateur and professional singers, who are the St. John's Choir. Led by organist-choirmaster Gordon King, the choir aspires, through music seamlessly integrated with liturgy, to lift us to that place where we can feel the Divine presence. The choir is an integral part of the Sunday liturgy, as well as feast days during the Church year, in a season ranging from September to the feast of Corpus Christi in late Spring.
The choir's repertoire ranges from ancient Gregorian chant and polyphony to newly composed music. Our heritage is the Anglican tradition, including the English cathedral music repertoire, as well as music of American composers. Our music is chosen to integrate with other aesthetic aspects of the liturgy, to create an artistically and spiritually unified whole.
For men and women who sing and read music reasonably well, and are willing to commit to the choir's schedule, the choir is a fun and spiritually rewarding musical ensemble The choir sings Sundays and major Holy Days from September through Corpus Christi in late spring. The choir rehearses at 9:30 Sunday mornings. Six additional rehearsals are scheduled during the year.
For samples of our music:
The St. John's Choristers
St. John's Choristers provides free musical education for children on Wednesday afternoons and they, in turn, sing at the 11:00 a.m. Eucharist one Sunday each month. They learn about the traditions of music and liturgy and are trained according to the Royal School of Church Music , an English musical education program for children.
The program serves primarily neighborhood children although some come from surrounding areas. Children from all over the city are welcome.
In the program they learn new sacred repertoire, grow as musicians, and develop lasting friendships with one another. The young singers will also continue their studies in vocal technique, music theory, and composition.
The Choristers come from a diverse background of ages and levels of experience but have learned to sing with one voice.
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about the Choristers
If you would like to introduce your child to the St. John's Choristers, please call the parish office at (212) 243-6192, and leave a message for choirmaster Gordon King or send him an email: gking@stjvny.org