St. James Choir
Rehearsals Wednesdays | 7-8:45 p.m.
This semi-professional adult ensemble sings most Sunday services throughout the year, as well as Evensong, Compline, Lessons & Carols, and other special concerts. Made up of volunteers who sing alongside the St. James Schola (our paid staff singers), this group sings music spanning nearly 1,500 years, from Gregorian chant to Spirituals. Membership is open to anyone with a basic understanding of how to read music, who can match pitch, and can commit to the schedule of rehearsals and services.

St. Cecilia Choir
Rehearsals Thursdays | 4-6 p.m.
Also known as “The Treble Choir,” this group is comprised girls and boys with unchanged voices in grades 5-12. Using the curriculum of the Royal School of Church Music in America (RSCMA), these choristers undergo serious, formal musical training, and typically sing two Sundays a month during the academic year, as well as special events like Evensong, Compline, Lessons & Carols, and special concerts. Members may be eligible for an end-of-year scholarship of up to nearly $500. Membership is limited and by audition.

St. Francis Choir
Rehearsals Thursdays | 3:30-4:30 p.m.
This choir is where our youngest musicians, grades 2-4, dip their toes in the musical pool. Using the curriculum of the Royal School of Church Music in America (RSCMA), these choristers undergo basic, formative musical training, and typically sing one Sunday a month during the academic year. Contact Shannon Gallier at sgallier@stjamesbr.org to sign up or for more information.

The choirs of St. James offer several regular choral services throughout the year.

Over the coming program year, the choirs will be engaging in extensive rehearsals, preparation, and fundraising as they prepare for their July 2025 residency at Worcester Cathedral in the United Kingdom. Part of that preparation will be the offering of six services of Choral Evensong, each mirroring the services that they will sing in that historic space. During their week-long residency at Worcester, our choirs will serve as the Cathedral choir, offering daily Evensong as well as a Sunday Choral Eucharist. They will also explore the beautiful English countryside, visit castles and museums, and immerse themselves in the birthplace of our musical and spiritual tradition.

Evensong, one of the crown jewels of our tradition, is a beautiful evening service filled with sung prayer and timeless music. All events are free, open to the public, and followed by a reception in Bishops Hall.

Sunday, October 6
4:30 p.m., Pre-service recital, Shannon Gallier, Organist
5 p.m., Choral Evensong St. Michael and All Angels

Sunday, November 3
4:30 p.m., Pre-service recital, Shannon Gallier, Organist
5 p.m., Choral Evensong All Saints’ Sunday

Sunday, January 26
4:30 p.m., Pre-service recital, Shannon Gallier, Organist
5 p.m., Choral Evensong The Conversion of St. Paul

Advent Lessons & Carols based on the Great “O” Antiphons
Sunday, December 3

• 4:30 p.m. Pre-service organ recital, Shannon Gallier
• 5 p.m. Lessons & Carols

This year, St. James & St. Cecilia Choirs will offer a service of Advent Lessons & Carols in place of our usual Christmas Lessons & Carols. With the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve 2023 being the same day, we will use this opportunity to explore the mystery of Advent as we prepare for the joy of Christmas. Using the ancient “O” Antiphons as a framework, we will journey in music from darkness into light and prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ Child. A champagne & shortbread reception will follow in Coleman Hall.