The St. Paul’s Choir School gives all ages an outstanding musical education through regular study and performance. Each week members have opportunities for meeting challenges in a loving, team-oriented environment, and the privilege and responsibility of leading public worship. Through a structured incentives program modeled on the Royal School of Church Music’s Voice for Life training scheme, our singers learn to appreciate the value of achieving short and long range goals individually and collectively. Singers are exposed to the greatest works of sacred music.
Novices, Choristers and the Chorale help lead the 9:00 a.m. services on Sundays during the school year. They may also choose to join with adult singers in the Summer Choir.
Novices
Novices are first and second graders. The Novices learn beginning music fundamentals as well as proper deportment during the services and begin to become familiar with the liturgical structure of Episcopal church services. Novices sit as a group - with adult supervision - in the congregation during Sunday morning services until earning their cottas in their second year, when they move up to the choir pews.
Rehearsals:
Tuesdays - 4:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Choristers
Choristers are third through sixth graders. They continue their training in music fundamentals and Episcopal liturgy begun as novices. As they grow in their ability to concentrate for longer periods of time, their rehearsal commitment grows as well, with two rehearsals per week in addition to RSCM training.
While understanding and sympathizing with the difficulties of finding time in children’s schedules for this commitment, we also know the importance of the role our Choristers have in leading the congregation during worship. It is important that these young singers be adequately prepared before having to stand before the congregation every Sunday and sing a finished piece of music. This is the age at which your child will best learn the important life lesson of taking the time to do something right and to the best of their ability. They also learn the joy of cooperation and teamwork in creating something of depth and beauty.
Rehearsals:
Tuesdays -4:00 - 4:30 p.m. - RSCM Training
Wednesdays (with Chorale) - 5:00 - 5:30 p.m. - RSCM Training
5:30 - 6:00 p.m. - Dinner
6:00 - 7:15 p.m. - Rehearsal
Chorale
Chorale members are seventh through twelfth graders. They continue their musical training, and begin to emerge as leaders in the choirs. It is expected that their proficiency in reading music, and their growth as musicians, will be at a higher level than that of the younger choir members. Each year, two high school seniors - a boy and a girl - are selected as Head Choristers, helping lead and organize the Choristers and Chorale in rehearsals and services.
Rehearsals:
Wednesdays (with Chorale) - 5:00 - 5:30 p.m. - RSCM Training
5:30 - 6:00 p.m. - Dinner
6:00 - 7:15 p.m. - Rehearsal