Choirs and Music
Grace Church is a community of faith deeply committed to “worship in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 96:9), and music is an integral part of that praise of God. Grace Church has a strong history of Anglican choral music, drawing on over a thousand years of music history—from Gregorian chant to music by contemporary composers. The music ministry of Grace Church is devoted to providing quality liturgical music to the glory of God, as well as offering occasional concerts in the lovely acoustics of the nave. Soli Deo Gloria!
Choirs
There are numerous opportunities to participate in the music program, including several choirs.
The Adult Choir regularly leads worship at the 9 AM and 11:15 AM Sunday Holy Eucharists, major evening feast day celebrations, and other services during the liturgical year. Choir members sing for either or both of the Sunday services. Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings from 7:30-9:30 PM in the St. Cecilia Room. Membership is open to anyone with a willingness to commit to regular rehearsals. Click here for the Adult Choir schedule.
The St. Nicholas Choir is for children and youth from reading age through voice change for boys, and through high school for girls. This choir follows the Voice for Life curriculum affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music in America (www.rscmamerica.org) –a tiered training program that provides instruction in healthy vocal production and technique, music theory, and the discipline required of singing in a musical group. Rehearsals are held on Tuesdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. Choristers attend at least one of the weekly rehearsals. The choir usually sings at the 9:00 AM service once a month during the school term and for the 5:00 PM Christmas Eve service. They also learn to follow and participate in the liturgy with the Book of Common Prayer and the hymnals. In addition to being a source of Christian formation through music, this group offers a free musical education to all who participate. Click here for the St. Nicholas Choir schedule.
Please click here to sign your child(ren) up for choir (and Sunday School).
The Handbell Choir meets Thursday evenings from 6:45 to 7:20 PM to learn bell-ringing techniques and to prepare music to enhance worship services at various times. Grace Church has a 3-octave set of handbells (Schulmerich) and a 3-octave set of choir chimes (Malmark). Music reading skills are also taught, so no one need stay away if they are unable to read music!
Organ
Grace Church’s organ, built by the Di Gennaro-Hart Organ Company of Washington, DC, was completed in the fall of 2009. It is situated in a newly-built rear gallery of the nave, and is comprised of 38 ranks over three manuals. Part of the organ is a free-standing “continuo” instrument located at the front of the nave – it is both self-contained and capable of being played from the main console in the choir gallery. Also located in the new narthex of the church is a single rank of pipes used for giving pitches for introits and other processional music.
Click here to see information about the continuo organ.
Click here to see information about the stop list.
Click here for the latest Choral Music List (Ash Wednesday through The Second Sunday after Pentecost).
For more information on any aspect of the Grace Church music program, please contact Kyle Babin, Director of Music (703-549-1980, ext. 128).
