Choirs
How Our Choirs Are Configured
How often, making music, we have found a new dimension in the world of sound, as worship moved us to a more profound. Alleluia! (Hymn #420)
All are welcome to sing! If reading music isn’t your thing, hopefully matching pitch is!
The Choirs
Music is integral to The Redeemer. Our choirs glorify God, adorning worship with song, and they are open to persons of all ages, so that singing can be a core expression of living. When one can sing, one is never alone. This is such an intimate, beautiful, and enduring part of personal formation.
The Cherub Choir (K-3rd grade) rehearses on Wednesday afternoon. Children learn the fundamentals of using their voice properly and matching pitch and rhythm. The choir generally sings once a month at the 9:30am Sunday service.
The Choristers (4th-8th grades) also rehearse on Wednesday afternoon. They sing more advanced anthems and learn elemental music theory, as well as the leadership and personal responsibility inherent to choral singing. Their core repertoire is representative of the Anglican and Episcopal traditions, which provide exposure to an expression of faith that has been formed over centuries. The Choristers sing twice a month at the 9:30am Sunday service, and once a month they lead the Sunday 5:00pm service of Evensong.
The Camerata (9th-12th grades) provides our youth the opportunity to sing with a select number of our professional staff singers, performing at the highest levels. It is rare for youth to have this kind of experience with highly trained singers. In recognition of the many demands placed on high school youth, the Camerata sings 3-4 times per year at the 9:30am Sunday service, with three Sunday rehearsals leading up to these occasions.
The Redeemer Choir (high school youth and adults) is The Redeemer’s largest ensemble. They are an intrinsic part of each Sunday’s liturgy and perform music spanning more than 500 years. Rehearsals are held Wednesday evenings.
The Chancel Choir consists of the staff singers and auditioned volunteers. They sing at the 5:00pm Evensong on the first Sunday of each month, at the 9:30am Sunday Matins service on the last Sunday of each month, and at select other occasions throughout the year.
The Staff Singers are the backbone of the whole music program. They are highly trained professionals who provide essential support, encouragement, and vocal and musical assistance across the full range of the choirs. As the best of mentors, they invite all participants in the music program to experience the inspiration that comes in and through song.
Rehearsal Schedule
Cherub Choir Wednesday, 5:00pm—6:00pm
Redeemer Choristers Tuesday and/or Wednesday, 5:00pm—6:00pm
Parish Supper: Wednesday, 6:00pm—6:40pm
Schola Wednesday, 6:45pm—8:00pm and some Sundays following the 9:30am service.
Redeemer Choir Wednesday, 6:45pm–8:15pm
Chancel Choir As scheduled
Singing Schedule
Cherub Choir once monthly at the 9:30am service
Redeemer Choristers 2nd & 4th Sunday (when there are five Sundays in a month) at the 9:30am service (special services & concerts separate)
and monthly Choral Evensong on the third Sunday of the month, at 5:00pm October through April.
Schola 1st & 3rd Sunday at the 9:30am service (special services & concerts separate)
Redeemer Choir Sundays, weekly, at the 9:30am service except for the last Sunday of the month. (special services & concerts separate)
Chancel Choir monthly Choral Matins at 9:30am on the last Sunday of each month (September through May),
and monthly Choral Evensong on the first Sunday of the month, at 5:00pm October through May.
If you’re interested in finding out more about the music program or would like to become involved, please contact Andrew Senn, Director of Music. asenn@theredeemer.org Andrew Senn, Director of Music
Singing Schedule
- Cherubs: once monthly at the 9:30a.m. service
- Redeemer Choristers: first and third Sunday at the 9:30am service (Evensongs and concerts separate)
- Schola: second and fourth Sunday at the 9:30a.m. service (Evensongs and concerts separate)
- Redeemer Choir: weekly, at the 9:30am service (Evensongs and concerts separate)
- Chancel Choir: Evensongs, Special Liturgies and Concerts
Approach To Choirs At The Redeemer
The choirs at The Redeemer are all part of our identity as an Episcopal parish within the Diocese of Pennsylvania. It is important to know that even though we are part of a specific faith-based organization, we still have and welcome participants (both youth and adult) from an array of religious backgrounds such as Jewish, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox, Baptist, and Presbyterian to name a few.
We encourage and embrace diversity, especially in the children’s programs. Our approach to being a welcoming program is at the very heart of Church of the Redeemer: “there are no insiders and outsiders......Our churchyard, our church building, our facilities, our programs, our ministries, and our worship are open to all, because openness without limitation is the keenest form of spiritual alertness”.
We do not indoctrinate our participants or sway their faith leanings one way or the other. Rather, we have an organic approach as to how people come to feel about their own beliefs through their involvement in our parish.
The choirs for the children and teens are designed not just to teach how to sing, but how to approach music: to develop an understanding in music theory, to increase knowledge of music history, to build a strong technique for their vocal skills, and to nurture social and leadership skills within the group, giving children a better understanding of themselves and those around them.
The children and adults experience opportunities for outreach, for mission work, travel abroad, professional-level concerts, and for the enjoyment of fellowship within the groups; forming friendships and linking bonds that last a very long time
Morning Service, Evensongs, And Special Offerings
Because we are blest with so many singing ensembles at The Redeemer, we rotate the youth choirs. The main Sunday morning service is the 9:30am Service of Holy Eucharist, Rite II. At this service the Redeemer Choir always sings, but we rotate the youth choirs for this service. 1st and 3rd Sundays for Choristers; 2nd and 4th Sundays for the Schola; the Cherubs sing about once a month at this service. The Chancel Choir serves at Evensongs, special liturgies, and concerts.
Beginning in October, and continuing through the program year, Choral Evensong is held at 5pm on the first and third Sunday of each month. Evensong is part of the Daily Office, the late-day counterpart to Morning Prayer. It is a non-Eucharistic choral service that offers hymnody, psalms, lessons appointed for the evening, choral canticles, and anthems. This service is also ideal for those who would like to experience the fullness of a Sunday liturgical expression without encountering repetition, as the readings and music for Evening prayer are entirely different from those appointed for the morning.
