RSCM America Publishes 'Five Choirs' Story

The Spring 2008 issue of the Royal School of Church Music America newsletter includes a story about the Five Choirs Festival at St. John's last October. Please click here to read it! (You'll need to scroll down to page 6.)

Click here to read other posts about the Five Choirs Festival.

You're Invited to the Five Choirs Festival at St. John's

The Five Choirs Festival at St. John's Parish on the Green in Waterbury, Connecticut, on October 19 and 20 will bring together 80 choristers from five Episcopal churches in Connecticut and Rhode Island to sing under the direction of the acclaimed Richard Webster.

"St. John's initiated this project because we want our choristers to sing these services," says Maria Coffin, who established and directs the Chorister Academy at St. John's.

"The most beautiful thing in the world is the sound of young voices singing this music," Ms. Coffin adds. "What better place than this beautiful church?"

Choristers from St. Luke's, East Greenwich, Rhode Island; St. Peter's, Cheshire; Trinity, Hartford; and Trinity, Newtown, will join the St. John's group.

Mr. Webster, Associate Director of Music at Trinity Church, Copley Square, Boston, is a choral director, organist, arranger and composer.

Matthew Brown, formerly an intern in church music at Grace Church in New York City, will be the organist during this festival.

All the choristers will sing Evensong at St. John's at 4 p.m. on October 20. The public is invited to attend this service.

Ms. Coffin hopes people in the community--parents, neighbors, music teachers--will attend this event and enjoy the talents of these children. "This will be a great opportunity for people in Waterbury to hear children sing beautiful music, and these children can do some very difficult things."

For more information, contact St. John's Church at 203-754-3116. Click here for an event flyer.

Five Choirs Festival at St. John's Parish, October 19 and 20

Here are images of the choristers of St. John's, Waterbury; St. Peter's, Cheshire; Trinity, Hartford; Trinity, Newtown; and St. Luke's, East Greenwich, Rhode Island. These young people participated in the Festival of Choirs at St. John's Church under the direction of the acclaimed Richard Webster. Matthew Brown was organist. Scroll down to "Listen" to hear the Evensong service of October 20. (Click on "Posts" to select the song you would like to hear.)

Choral Conductor Richard Webster Looks Forward to the Festival

Composer and choral conductor Richard Webster, who will direct the Five Choirs Festival at St. John's next weekend, offers his thoughts on the value of teaching the choral art to young people:

Children's minds are like sponges. They soak up anything and everything offered them, and quickly. That's why they learn a foreign language much faster than adults. So rather than fill their minds with drivel, why not offer then only the finest in music, art or literature. Given the proper tools, skills and encouragement, children can learn to sing Bach, Byrd, Howells and Mozart, and LOVE it. In doing so, we are not looking to create young snobs. By simply exposing them to beauty at a level appropriate to their development, we allow the hearts and souls to be moved by this beauty. One need only visit a rehearsal room when the director says, "Now let's take out the Bach and work on all those sixteenth notes and German words," and the resounding unison response from the kids is "Yesssss!"

Please Join us for the Five Choirs Festival

Read all about it here.

Festival of Choirs

FESTIVAL OF CHOIRS

October 19 and 20, 2007
St. John's Church, Waterbury, Connecticut

St. John's, Waterbury, Connecticut
St. Luke's, East Greenwich, Rhode Island
St. Peter's, Cheshire, Connecticut
Trinity, Hartford, Connecticut
Trinity, Newtown, Connecticut

a two-day festival for 80 young singers
from five churches and towns

Richard Webster, Director
Matthew Brown, Organist

Maria Coffin, Coordinator

concluding with a service of
EVENSONG
the ancient Anglican service of sung evening prayers
Saturday, October 20, 4 p.m.
All are welcome.

Click here to print a flyer.

203-754-3116