St. Stephen’s Choristers
The St. Stephen’s Chorister program offers not only an excellent education in music, but to impart skills for life. Formation in leadership, teamwork, service, work ethic, commitment, and friendship will serve each chorister well in whichever walk of life they choose.
The chorister program at St. Stephen’s Church seeks to instill confidence and poise in each chorister, as each learns to be part of a team—both as members and as leaders—whose sum is greater than its parts. We provide choristers with outstanding professional vocal training, music theory, leadership development, and abundant performance opportunities.
The chorister program welcomes young people grade one and above and is inclusive of all genders. Choristers sing for services approximately twice monthly in the main church at St. Stephen’s and in Palmer Hall, a chapel that offers service each Sunday for families with young children. Choristers are trained in the fundamentals of musicianship and chorister conduct. They serve primarily in Christian worship services, but we warmly welcome young people of any or no faith background.
Exceptional music
• Professional instruction in in music, offered free of charge.
• An equal emphasis on vocal training and music-reading skills.
• Children learn and sing a wide array of the finest sacred music, from the 16th century to the present day.
• Our choir is modeled on famous English choirs.
Skills for life
• We teach more than just music skills; our training can be an essential part of the whole formation of a child.
• Each child receives significant individual attention in a stimulating, challenging, yet fun environment.
• Leadership skills are an important part of our program.
• Social activities foster bonding and strong friendships.
• St. Stephen’s affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music in America, part of a worldwide network that fosters excellence in church music.
Becoming a chorister
• As choristers participate in the parish’s worship, they learn about Christian faith and the Episcopal tradition in an environment that teaches God’s love for everyone and respects other faith traditions.
• Children may join at any time.
• Visit us for a rehearsal or service; contact Robert McCormick for further information or to arrange a visit.
Our director and associate director
Our internationally known director, Robert McCormick, has decades of experience in training children’s voices. His young choristers have performed as soloists with the Washington National Opera, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and other noted organizations. Mr. McCormick is highly sought after as a guest conductor, workshop leader, and teacher, and has directed national courses for the Royal School of Church Music and the American Guild of Organists.
Our associate director, Diana Chou, holds degrees from Amherst College, Yale University, and Indiana University, where she also taught as an associate instructor of organ.
Schedule
The St. Stephen’s Choristers keep the weekly schedule below during the program year, which begins with the Sunday after Labor Day and ends with the Sunday before Memorial Day weekend.
St. Stephen’s Choristers Rehearsal: 5-6 p.m.
Dinner: 6-6:30 p.m.
Vesting and snack in Room 17 (Top floor of parish house): 8 a.m.
Rehearsal in either Palmer Hall or the church: 8:45 a.m.
Service either in Palmer Hall or the church: 9 a.m.
In addition to singing for services, the St. Stephen’s Choristers also sing for special concerts at St. Stephen’s and elsewhere, as well as for community events, such as the national anthem for Flying Squirrels baseball games. Other activities, such as Christmas caroling, summer choir camps, choir parties, community service, choir recordings, and national and international choir tours are included in the schedule, depending on the year. These all seek to build lasting friendships within the choir and empower the choristers for service in their wider community.
Join any time!
If you know a young person who loves to sing and would be interested in joining one of the choirs, please complete an interest form or contact Robert McCormick anytime. Prospective members of the St. Stephen’s Choristers will be asked to arrange an informal audition. These auditions are mainly to begin to get to know prospective choristers and learn more about their level of experience and interest, not to pass a test! Nothing will need to be prepared in advance for the audition.
Music lessons
Full membership in the St. Stephen’s Choristers (those who have completed the first level of the RSCM Voice for Life curriculum) includes weekly half-hour voice and music theory lessons with one of our skilled and experienced voice teachers. These are free of charge, and enable each chorister to better progress at their own individual pace. Achievement medals are awarded after further levels of the curriculum are completed, placing choristers on a level footing with other choristers around the country and the world.
More information is available from Mr. McCormick.
Parent volunteers
The work of the chorister program “takes a village,” as the saying goes, and there are many ways for parents to be involved in supporting the choirs. Please let Mr. McCormick know if you would like to be involved!