Choirs at St. Peter's Church
The Music Program:
Choirs at St. Peter's Church
The Adult Choir
- Rehearses most every Wednesday evening from 7:00-8:30 and on Sunday mornings from 9:15-9:45.
- Sings Sundays for the 10:00 Eucharist, except for the first Sunday of the month.
- Sings for Christmas, Holy Week, Lenten and Evensong services, but not during July and August
- Performs a wide variety of repertoire from Palestrina and Tallis to C.V. Stanford, Rutter and traditional American spirituals.
- Enjoys a warm fellowship atmosphere and a special camaraderie which is cultivated with dinners at choir members' homes and services sung "on the road", whether in Gloucester, England or Hyannis Port.
- Welcomes and encourages new members. Previous choral and/or music experience is helpful, but not necessary. Extra help is gladly given through extra one-on-one coaching and listening CD's.
Please see director Karen Crosby for a complete schedule and details. Her contact information: Phone: 508-428-6577 and email: karenecrosby@verizon.net.
The Family Choir
- Rehearses after church on Sundays except for the first Sunday of the month when they rehearse from 9:15 -9:45.
- Sings Sundays for the Family Eucharist which is the first Sunday of the month.
- Sings on Easter and for Choir Appreciation Sunday at the end of the year, but not during July and August.
- Performs a very eclectic repertoire involving ethnic, ecumenical, traditional Classical, traditional American spirituals and "Praise" music.
- Welcomes individuals of all ages and experience, as well as families. Children may participate without a parent singing for the services. No previous musical/choral experience is necessary. Special solos are possible for those who wish to broaden their involvement. One-on-one coaching and listening CD's are available for all.
Please see director Karen Crosby for a complete schedule and details. Her contact information: Phone: 508-428-6577 and email: karenecrosby@verizon.net
Special Music at St. Peter's
The Summer Program
This is an extension of the Family Choir's repertoire. Ten outdoor services are held each summer beginning in July at Crystal Lake located near St. Peter's. A mixed group of our choirs gathers each Sunday for the 9:15 am lake service. Our instrumentation includes piano, bass, two guitars, saxophone and flutes. This is a very unique and special situation. The outdoor atmosphere combined with the different instrumentation and repertoire provides for an exceptionally rich, nourishing and meaningful experience for all involved.
The Adult Choir's residency at Gloucester Cathedral, England
Sunday morning Eucharist is to be held.
The Adult Choir was privileged, both musically and spiritually in April, 2009, to serve as the Choir-in-Residence at Gloucester Cathedral, England. At St. Peter's, we sang our complete Holy Week and Easter morning services (plus two Widor Toccatas for me) and then got on a bus at 2:00 Easter Day to begin our journey to England. By Tuesday afternoon we were singing the first of six unique Evensongs at the cathedral, plus a Eucharist. As you can imagine, lots of hard work went into the preparation for that week. We did a lot of American music – early and contemporary --which I felt very strongly about incorporating into our scheduled pieces. I studied hard the pedagogy for a group vocal sound that would be fitting for a cathedral, but that would still have our "Americana" in place.
I felt it was important that every choir member be offered the chance to attend, so scholarships were offered to those who couldn't afford the trip. We brought a few "ringers" with us, people who sing occasionally with our Parish Family, to fill out our sound. We raised about $30,000. We were supported without hesitation by the Vestry, Clergy and congregation.
Each choir member put in a lot of extra time at home preparing. Summer rehearsals meant sacrifices including golf, dinner with visiting families and the usual summer social events on Cape Cod. Aside from the regularly expected challenges in preparation for this once-in-a-lifetime experience, we faced the fact that a half dozen of the choir members would be leaving around Christmas to go to warmer climates. CDs of single parts and more CDs of rehearsals were made; Evensongs performed were recorded and examples of our repertoire downloaded and were sent out to the "snowbirds" to help them practice on their own. The choir rose to the occasion with the gusto and dignity expected of those who would be ambassadors of our little church in such a venue as one steeped in choral tradition.
rehearses the Preces and Responses.