Choir and Music
Music is an integral part of our worship services. The festive 10 a.m. service on Sunday features choir and organ, led by our music director and organist, Dr. Lenore Alford. About once a month, our musicians are joined by resident trumpeter Bill Holmes.
Dr. Alford is committed to creating liturgical music that is exciting, inspiring, and communicative. Her music is frequently improvised and often reflects her passion for presenting works by women composers.
We're proud of St. John's organ. It is one of the largest and most successful instruments of its type in Northern California. The organ is a "hybrid" instrument -- about one-third Aeolian-Skinner pipes and two-thirds Allen Renaissance digital.
Dr. Lenore Alford, Music Director
Our 25 voice SATB choir is open to all adults and high school students who can match pitch and attend rehearsals regularly. We sing a varied repertoire that includes classic and new works. Ours is a vibrant, friendly community of music lovers, and we welcome you to join us! If you would like to know more, contact Dr. Alford at 415-456-1102x111, or lenore@stjohnsross.org.
St. John's adult choir rehearses on Thursday evenings, 7:00 to 8.30, and from 9:05 on Sunday mornings to prepare to lead the 10.00 service. We take the second Sunday of each month off, when the St. Hildegard Choir sings in our place. Childcare is provided on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings.
Children's Choir
St. John's Choir School for boys and girls K-8
Background Information
The St. John's Choir School offers first-rate vocal training for boys and girls in a nurturing Christian environment. Rooted in the excellence of the Anglican musical tradition, the St. John's Choir School is dedicated to giving children the training and opportunities that allow them to participate fully in the ministry of music at St. John's. This means that on the second Sunday of each month, our children's choir (known as the St. Hildegard choir) leads the sung liturgy at 10am at St. John's. We also sing during the Christmas Pageant, on Christmas Eve, and at Easter. Our chorister program is affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music in America (the RSCM).
St. John's music director and organist Dr. Lenore Alford (www.lenorealford.com) directs the program, teaches the students, and conducts the rehearsals. Alford received her doctorate in Organ and Sacred Music from the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied with the internationally acclaimed musician and pedagogue Dr. Gerre Hancock, Emeritus Organist and Master of the Choristers of St. Thomas 5th Avenue in NYC. Dr. Hancock created one of the most famous boys choirs in the world at St. Thomas during his tenure from the early 1970's until 2004; he is credited as the force behind the revitalization of children's choirs in America.
Participation in the St. John's Choir School develops each child's musicianship, and also nurtures invaluable life skills of teamwork, leadership, discipline, and self-confidence. The rehearsal schedule features small group instruction that is at once challenging and fun. Several times a year, the children joins with the adult choir of St. John's, allowing children and adults to join in singing together the great sacred music of the ages.
RSCM: The Royal School of Church Music (www.rscmamerica.org)
Founded in England in 1927 by Sir Sydney Nicholson, the RSCM remains dedicated to the highest standards of music in the church. It has grown to become an international and ecumenical organization with more than 11,000 affiliates in North America, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and throughout Europe.
Two of the main offerings of the RSCM are:
· VOICE for LIFE, an acclaimed structured choral training guide
· Annual week-long summer courses for choristers in various regional locations
The RSCM VOICE for LIFE program is structured in four levels: light blue, dark blue, red, and yellow. Each level represents successive, individual achievements in vocal skills, musical understanding, knowledge of repertoire, commitment to the choir, and the like. Workbooks and cards with specific targets allow choristers to work through the four levels at an individual pace. Ribbons and awards are given as the child masters each level in the program.
Rehearsal Schedule and Fee Information
Rehearsals are Tuesdays at 4:15 - 5pm for beginner singers, and Wednesdays from 4pm - 5pm for intermediate singers.
Tuition for the year is $300 per chorister, which covers only a portion of the cost of the program. The rest is made up from fundraisers and the like.
Please contact Dr. Lenore Alford, Music director, if you would like additional information. She may be reached at 415-456-1102x111, orlenore@stjohnsross.org. The program is open to parishioners and non-parishioners alike; tuition is higher for non-parishioners.
The choirs of St. John's at AT&T Park--we did it!
The choirs of St. John's sang "The Star Spangled Banner" for over 40,000 SF Giants fans at the afternoon game on June 23, 2011at AT&T park--and did a great job! We all had a wonderful, memorable afternoon together watching the Giants win! Click here to watch Keith Granger's video of the whole adventure.
Benefit Concerts
Visit our concerts page to find out more about benefit concerts for St John's music program.
St. John's Ross
14 Lagunitas Ave. (at Shady Lane) | P.O. Box 217 | Ross, CA 94957 | (415) 456-1102 | contact us