Christmas Eve: "Silent Night"

Choristers Sing at the GWIM Christmas Party for Homeless Children

Choristers Offer Advent, Christmas Eve, Songs

The Chorister Academy will sing during the 10:15 a.m. worship service of Lessons and Carols on December 2. The group will also sing Evensong at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, December 6. The public is welcome to attend.

P.S. It's time for the Choristers to start practicing the signed version of "Silent Night." Click here for the practice video.

The choristers will sing at the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve service, as well.

Choristers Participate in St. John's Christmas Bazaar November 17

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.)

Choristers Participate in St. John's 275th Anniversary Celebration

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.

Singers Develop Their Voices and Their Confidence at Chorister Camp

The three of the choristers from St. John's who attended a week-long program of music and fellowship during a choristers camp at St. Thomas Church in New York City in July say the program helped them to strengthen and develop their singing voices while making new friends and enjoying the company of old ones. The girls returned with greater confidence in their abilities and enthusiasm for the chorister program.

Ofelia, the lead chorister at St. John's, says the program taught her to hit the High B as well as other previously out-of-reach notes. She and Diana said the exercises for "jiggling your muscles" to strengthen them helped them develop their voices.

Susy says that through the course she learned how to support her voice: "I learned how to hold it longer so my throat doesn't give out before I'm done."

The 44 girls from around the country who attended practiced singing for 1 1/2 hours three times a day.

All three girls enjoyed seeing New York City, including a performance of Mama Mia and walks in Central Park. The girls said that back in their dorms they found themselves singing as a group for the fun of it as well as just plain having fun with their peers.

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.

Chorister Calendar is Up-to-Date

Please click on the calendar in the navigation toolbar on the right to open up the Chorister Academy's fall calendar. The rehearsal, singing, and event calendar are current as of August 16.

Choristers Need Your Help for the Festival of Choirs

The Festival of Choirs at St. John's Church October 19 and 20 will present 80 choristers from Connecticut and Rhode Island to meet and mingle with peers from other churches and to sing under the direction of the acclaimed Richard Webster before they sing Evensong at St. John's at 4 p.m. on October 20. Matthew Brown, formerly an intern in church music at Grace Church in New York City, will be the organist during this festival.

This event will need church wide support. Chorister Academy director Maria Coffin needs your help in the following ways: *food for Saturday snack break,
*food for Saturday lunch,
*home stays for about 25 children, and
*help coordinating rooms for our visitors to St. John's.

Please contact Maria at St. John's 203-754-3116 if you can help. Click here to download a flyer to print and display.