St. Mary’s Choir School provides a tuition-free music education and a wealth of fantastic opportunities for fun and growth. This offering is based on the premise that the life of the spirit can be immeasurably enhanced for a lifetime by the joy and discipline of music. As each chorister grows and develops, the hope is that the skills and core values that are learned in choir will result a lifelong desire to sing, giving God the praise not only of our lips but of our lives. The Treble Choir and Boys & Girls Choir are affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music in America which offers incentives for such an experience (see below).
Bless, O Lord, us thy servants who minister in Thy temple. Grant that what we sing with our lips, we may believe in our hearts, and what we believe in our hearts, we may shew forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-Royal School of Church Music Chorister’s Prayer
Treble Choir
Boys and Girls, Kindergarten through 3rd grade
Sings for special services at St. Mary’s
Sings once a month at 9:00 a.m. Eucharist
Rehearses Thursdays 6:30-7:00 p.m. throughout the school year.
Treble Choir Skills and Core Values
Each chorister (pronounced core-ist-er) learns
Vocal skills
matching pitch
discovering the singing voice and the speaking voice
singing with expression
producing a pleasing tone
pronouncing words clearly
learning singing posture
breathe like a singer
Music skills
reading and performing rhythms
quarter, eighths, hole, half notes and their rests
reading music signs and terms
piano, forte, staff, treble clef
the musical scale
learning hand signals for the musical scale
singing scale on solfege (do, re, mi, ...)
reading steps and skips
singing steps and skips
Worship skills
singing is a gift we give to God
singing in a choir helps other people worship God
what the words to the song mean
about the liturgy and worship of the Episcopal Church
Choir skills/Teamwork skills
listening to the instructions of the director during rehearsals
watching the director
for the tempo, when to breathe, how loud to sing, how to shape your mouth for the best sound, help with expression and energy
blending the voice with the sound of the choir
making friendships as a result of singing together
because everyone makes a contribution, we encourage regular attendance
making our play like work and our work like play
Our repertoire comes from folk songs, children’s songs and hymns of the church.
Incentives for Participation in Treble Choir
White cottas are awarded to third graders after they have learned some basic musical and liturgical
information: the names of the notes on the treble clef, reading one verse of a hymn aloud, performing
simple rhythm patterns and reciting the Lord’s prayer from memory.
In May at the annual Choir Banquet certificates and crosses are awarded based on years of service.
Boys & Girls Choir
4th grade and up
Community Performances
Regional Royal School of Church Music Choir Events
Weekend Tours
Special Services at St. Mary’s
Lessons and Carols
Epiphany Feast of Lights
Choral Evensong
Choir Recognition Sunday
Sings twice a month at 9:00 a.m. Eucharist at St. Mary’s
also any Boys & Girls Choir Chorister can participate with Adult Choir during summer and other occasions throughout the year.
Rehearses Thursdays 7:00-7:55 p.m. throughout the school year with Music Skill Training from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Boys & Girls Choir Skills and Core Values
Each chorister learns …
Vocal Skills
producing a pleasing singing tone
singing with greater depth of expression
consistently pronouncing words so that they are understood
expanding the vocal range
consistent singing posture
breathing at ends of phrases, stagger breathing to sustain long phrases
Music Skills
reading/performing all but the most complex rhythms
understanding time signatures
reading/performing an expanded vocabulary of music signs and terms
knowing note names of the treble clef
the musical scale
singing scale on numbers
reading and singing all basic intervals of the scale
understanding key signatures
learning the basic concepts of singing music at sight
Worship skills
the distinctive purpose of church choirs in contrast to other choirs
using the Book of Common Prayer, the Hymnal 1982 and the leaflet to fully
participating and leading services
greater understanding of the meaning of what we sing
understanding the basic elements of the Eucharist and evensong
knowing the purpose, location, spelling and pronunciation of areas and objects in the church
processing, standing and sitting as a choir
knowing the seasons of the church year and its major feasts
Choir skills/Teamwork skills
taking proper care of music, folder, pencil, vestments, cross, ribbon
watching the director without being reminded
blending the voice with the sound of the choir without being reminded
listening to the instructions of the director during rehearsals without being reminded
developing a family approach to relationships in the choir
attending faithfully because each contribution is valued
finding fulfillment in striving for excellence
Our repertoire is drawn mainly from easy as well as more challenging anthems from the Anglican choral tradition and classical and folk music of every era.
Incentives for Participation in Boys & Girls Choir
Each year choir trips are planned for the Boys & Girls Choir. In past years we have sung with Christ Church, Alexandria, and Church of the Redeemer, Bethesda at Christ Church, Philadelphia; and St. James Church, New York City; Calvary Church, Pittsburgh; and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City. We have also sung at Bruton Parish, Williamsburg; Williamsburg Presbyterian Church and St. Michael & All Angels, Baltimore. We often collaborate with local parishes to sign evensong or other services. This past season we sang Jehan Alain's Messe Modale with Church of the Redeemer. The work was accompanied by string quartet and flute. In February of 2008 we sang at Washington National Cathedral as part of the 80th anniversary celebration of the Royal School of Church Music.
In addition to the joy of singing and sharing our musical gifts, points are awarded for attendance, punctuality, notification of absences, attentiveness in rehearsal, care of music and vestments and musical progress. At the end of each month Baskin & Robbins gift certificates are awarded to the first and second place prize winners. First place prize winners also receive a tour of the inside of the church organ. The ten-minute tour is scheduled at a convenient time for parent, chorister and choirmaster. The two cumulative winners from September through December are offered full scholarships to Royal School of Church Music Singing Courses for the following summer (see below).
Bonus points are awarded for make-up sessions (due to absence or extra enthusiasm). These last for about 30 minutes and can be arranged by appointment with me. Bonus points are also awarded for singing on any Sunday with the Parish Choir on a date not scheduled as a Boys & Girls Choir Sunday. On these Sundays choristers arrive at 8:30 a.m. for the 9:00 Eucharist or 10:30 a.m. for the 11:15 Eucharist, robe and sing the hymns, psalm and service music and process with the Parish Choir.
Completing Voice for Life workbooks is rewarded by receiving Royal School of Church Music medals and ribbons:
Novice singers are awarded white cottas to wear over their red cassocks
(typically in the 3rd grade in the Treble Choir.)
Beginning choristers are awarded white ribbons,
Middler choristers are awarded light blue ribbons,
Junior choristers are awarded dark blue ribbons,
Senior choristers are awarded red ribbons and
Senior choristers with distinction are awarded yellow ribbons.
Work towards completion of the Voice for Life workbooks occurs Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Ribbons are awarded at ceremonies in November and May. In May at the annual Choir Banquet certificates and crosses are awarded based on years of service.
Additionally the choirmaster is in a unique position to be able to be a reference for college applications. Here are several reasons this would be an attractive option to consider:
The Choir program is affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music an internationally recognized organization.
The choirmaster has multiple graduate degrees in music and has brought national attention to the music program at St. Mary's.
Many choristers participate in the program over a long-term period (from kindergarten through high school), giving a unique perspective on the chorister's growth and development.
Many college applicants are looking for activities that are unique to make their application more appealing.
Royal School of Church Music Summer Choir Courses
Attendance at Royal School of Church Music Summer Courses is encouraged. These week-long courses are highly organized with expert adult leadership. Each day includes services, rehearsals and recreational activities. The courses have a major impact on the spiritual and musical life of those who attending, singing under internationally acclaimed music directors and with choristers from all over North America. RSCM courses are held at locations throughout the United States. See www.rscmamerica.org or Gregory for more information. Scholarships are available.
