The Chorister Academy at St. John's Parish

Voice Coach Marissa Famiglietti Works with Choristers

2009-11-07T10:19:00.003-05:00

Voice coach Marissa Famiglietti works with the Chorister Academy on Thursday evenings. A soprano, Marissa is a graduate of the Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Classical Vocal Performance program at the Manhattan School of Music. Ms. Famiglietti studies voice with Metropolitan Opera baritone Mark Oswald. Click here for Marissa's bio.

Images from Rehearsal and Worship

2009-10-11T19:26:00.001-04:00

Choristers to Sponsor an All Hallows Eve Square Dance

2009-10-01T21:21:00.002-04:00

Join us for an "All Hallows Eve" square dance harvest festival and costume party! This fun evening will be sponsored by The Chorister Academy, the Church School, and the Festival of Learning.

St. John's Church

Saturday, October 31

Starting at 6 p.m.

This will be a pot-luck supper, so bring a dish to share.

St. John's Summer Camp, August, 2009

2009-08-18T07:31:00.000-04:00

The Choristers' Pool Party, Thanks to Alice

2009-06-24T19:35:00.001-04:00

June 21: "My Heart Ever Faithful" (J.S. Bach)

2009-06-22T05:44:00.003-04:00

Singing at the Church of the Transfiguration

2009-04-21T04:12:00.001-04:00

The Choristers at The Church of the Transfiguration, New York City, April 19

2009-04-20T20:55:00.002-04:00

Easter Morning

2009-04-14T21:22:00.000-04:00

Bishop Laura Visits with the Kids at St. John's

2009-03-29T16:16:00.003-04:00

Bishop Laura spent some time at the end of worship on Sunday, March 29, talking with the kids at St. John's about her hat, which she said reminded her of the Holy Spirit, and her staff, which reminded her that the Good Shepherd wants her to be a shepherd and take care of everyone.

Choristers Receive Awards on March 8

2009-03-08T20:00:00.003-04:00

On Sunday, March 8, the choristers sang an announcement about our next Evensong on Thursday, March 12, at 6:45 p.m. Also on Sunday, the following award were made:

Probationers to full choristers: Sarah Martello and Brandon White; and
Dark Blue ribbons to twelfth-grader Susy Cromwell (left) and fifth-grader Adella Carlson (right).

'What's to Love About the Choristers?' Part II

2009-03-06T16:25:00.004-05:00

Paula says she likes singing the best

and Pamela she likes seeing her friends and singing.

Compiled and photographed by Adella Carlson.

What's to Love about Being a Chorister?

2009-03-02T16:48:00.019-05:00

Brandon likes "new songs and music."

Zani says she lies "learning new music."

Sarah says she likes "learning new songs," too.

Cherry on the other hand, likes "the New York trips" the best.

Lindsey agrees the trips are her favorite part of being a Chorister.

Raven says singing is her favorite activity as a Chorister.

Krystal says she most likes "helping new kids."

Shaina likes when "we sing."

Adella says she loves "making new friends and learning new songs."

Compiled and photographed by Adella Carlson

Chocolate Sale to Benefit Choristers' Bus Trip to Sing in NYC

2009-02-17T09:23:00.003-05:00

The choristers are planning a trip to New York City on Sunday, April 19, the Sunday after Easter. We have been invited to sing with the choir of the Church of the Transfiguration (the Little Church Around the Corner) one block from Fifth Avenue.

The Choristers are selling Fascia's chocolates for Easter to raise funds to cover the $1100.00 cost of the bus. Please see Chorister Academy director Maria Coffin or one of the choristers to purchase chocolates. Prices range from $2.95 to $10.95 for chocolate bunnies, crosses, and assorted chocolates. The last day to place an order will be March 22.

Choristers' Plant Sale Will Benefit Members Attending Girls' Course at St. Thomas

2009-02-16T08:57:00.003-05:00

The Chorister Academy hopes to send three of its members to the Girls' Course at St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue in New York City from July 26 to August 2. We have sent girls tot his course for the past two summers, and it has been a wonderful event for the choristers and the Chorister Academy when they return with their new knowledge and skills. The cost for each girl is $720. The choristers will be selling plants for Mother's Day to defray this cost. Please support us!

Click here to view previous posts about our choristers at St. Thomas Church.

Choristers Attend Diocesan Choirmasters Conference

2009-02-14T07:07:00.004-05:00

With our academy director Maria Coffin, some of our choristers attended the diocesan choirmasters' conference at St. Paul's in Fairfield on Saturday, January 3.

Choristers' Fellowship

2009-02-12T22:21:00.002-05:00

'
The choristers enjoy a hot meal and fellowship during rehearsal. Every Thursday, parent volunteers heat and serve the food prepared by Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries' Soup Kitchen for the kids.

Choristers Sing at Gathering of Episcopal Clergy

2009-02-04T20:59:00.003-05:00

Choristers from Trinity Church, Newtown, and St. Peter's, Cheshire, joined the choristers of St. John's for a Compline service at the Crown Pointe Hotel in Southbury, where the Conference of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut was meeting.

Holiday Celebration

2009-01-05T09:15:00.001-05:00

Family Christmas Eve Service

2008-12-24T21:52:00.001-05:00

Choristers Sing at Christmas

2008-12-07T16:36:00.003-05:00

The Chorister Academy at St. John's will sing at the 4 p.m. Family Christmas Eve worship service. (There will be a 7:30 p.m. Vispera de Navidad service in Spanish and a 10 p.m. Festive Eucharist with Choir and Instruments, as well. On Christmas Day, there will be a 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist and Carols service. The Chorister Academy will not be singing as a group at these services.)

The Four Choirs Festival

2008-10-26T11:03:00.001-04:00

Click here to sample some of the music from Evensong.

Please Save These Dates

2008-09-14T20:30:00.004-04:00

Saturday, September 27: Potluck square dance from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Bring food for the food bank as well as food to share with the group.
Friday through Saturday, October 24-25: Four Choirs Festival ending with Evensong at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Tuesday, November 4: Choir Day from 9:30 to 2:30 p.m. Bring your lunch for a day of fun with all of the choristers.
Thursday, December 4: Advent Evensong at 6:45 p.m. after the regular rehearsal. Parents and friends are welcome.
Sunday, December 7: Lessons and Carols for Advent

Choristers to Meet September 4 at 5 pm

2008-09-01T09:05:00.000-04:00

The Chorister Academy at St. John's Church, on the Green in Waterbury, begins its fifth year on Thursday, September 4, at 5 pm. There is a limited number of openings for young people who would like to learn to sing the great music of the church and who would like to receive a basic music education.

Membership in the choir is for young people in grades 3 through 12.

A Training Choir for children in grades K-2 will begin rehearsals on Thursday, September 11, at 4 pm. Children who participate in this choir will receive musical training through participation in musical games, singing, and other musical activities.

The director of both choirs is Mrs. Maria Coffin, and she will be happy to talk to interested families about their children's membership in either choir. Please call her at 203-754-3116 for more information.

Chorister News from Maria Coffin, Director

2008-08-10T18:25:00.003-04:00

The Chorister Academy begins its fifth year with a new and expanded program. Our new development is the Training Choir for children in grades K through 2 and older children who wish to join the Chorister Academy but have no musical experience. The Training Choir will meet on Thursday afternoons from 4 to 4.45 p.m. and will include singing, learning to read music, musical games, and anything that will make young children comfortable and excited about the wonderful experience of singing choral music. It is hoped that the Training Choir will be ready to sing in church by Christmas.

The Chorister Academy will continue to meet on Tuesdays from 4 to 5.30 p.m. and on Thursdays from 5 to 7.15 p.m. and will now be able to concentrate on learning more difficult music. The members will also be working on earning their various color ribbons. We have young people working on the first ribbon (light blue), the second ribbon (dark blue) and the third (red). We hope to have reached some of our goals by Advent.

New members of either choir are eagerly sought and will be welcomed. They will be asked to meet with the director to determine their placement. Please call the church office at 754-3116 to arrange to talk with the director.

Be sure to mark on your calendar the Festival Evensong to be sung by the Chorister Academy and visiting choirs on Saturday, October 25 at 4 p.m.