MUSIC at ST. PATRICK'S

Our music program at St. Patrick’s strives to provide an opportunity for all ages to participate in and enrich the life of the St. Patrick’s community. In addition to providing music throughout the year during the 10 a.m. and other special times of worship, there are concerts, recitals and other events that engage our music participants and offer fun and fellowship to our community.

The Cantoris Choir is perhaps the most visible of our musical entities. There is a great camaraderie of spirit as this group prepares anthems and special music. Within the Cantoris Choir we have several section leaders who help and encourage others in the choir. Our section leaders also provide special music in the form of solos, duets and other ensembles for our worship and music events.

All of our other groups work either in sessions, with 2-5 weeks of rehearsal prior to an offering of music during the worship service or other special event or through periodic one day rehearsals.  The Family Choir, Music in Motion, Jubilate Deo, Cambiata Choir, Nova Lux, St. Patrick’s Peal, the Drum Corps and Youth Instrumentalists add variety to our worship music and offer their talents with great enthusiasm.

This year our Cambiata Choir and Nova Lux Choir are once again teaming up with St. Patrick’s Christian Formation program.   A session of the J2A (Journey to Adulthood) program for Youth will be offered either before or following rehearsals.

Won’t you help make music in this wonderful place?

Adele Lynch --- Director of Music
202-342-2823
lynch@stpatsdc.org

THE CANTORIS

This choir is open to adults and young persons of high school age. The Cantoris provides special music and congregational support at most of the 10:00 am services Sept.-June.

The music covers a broad spectrum of traditional pieces from the Renaissance through the present day, occasionally featuring works of local composers.

Several “major works” throughout the season provide challenge and inspiration as we offer our musical efforts to the St. Patrick’s community.

St. Patrick’s Cantoris
Thursday Evenings

7:30 - 9:30
Sunday Mornings 9:00
Sept. 6 - June 8

JUBILATE DEO

The “Deo” is designed for young persons grades 3-6 and concentrates on music reading and interpretation. They provide occasional special music at the 10:00 service and participate in special events throughout the school year.

Join the fun!!

Highlights include this year include “It’s cool in the furnace,” (the wonderful musical story of Daniel and his three friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego), “The tale of the three trees,” (a Palm Sunday musical) and the Mother’s Day GALA Concert.

Jubilate Deo
Rehearse with either the Monday or Thursday group

By Session: Mondays 3:15 – 4:00 or Thursdays 4:30 – 5:15
Sept. - May

CAMBIATA CHOIR/J2A

This is our vocal group for kids in Grades 7 – 9. It is designed to cover the range of our young singers as their voices go through the transition phase of development. We have also enjoyed the opportunity to pair up with Christian Formation and the Journey to Adulthood program by scheduling these terrific groups together each session. We sing together, have dinner together and then spend time in discussion together. It’s a great experience for our younger teens.

Cambiata Choir
By Session: Mondays 5:30 – 6:20 (alternate times available for those with scheduling difficulties)

Followed by J2A: 6:30 – 7:30
Sept. - May

NOVA LUX/YAC

Another combined program is our Nova Lux/YAC (the “Young Adults in Church” segment of Journey to Adulthood) offering for High School age young people in Grades 10 – 12. This great group will add “new light” to our Cantoris Choir periodically as they join for special anthems and events.  It will give our very, very time-crunched older teens an opportunity to continue their singing at St. Patrick’s even in the midst of AP courses, sports marathons and college/job preparation.  We follow the same pattern as our Cambiata/J2A with singing, dinner and discussion all together on the same night.

Nova Lux Choir
Monthly on Thursdays 7:00 – 8:00 Dinner and discussion

Rehearsal with Cantoris 8:00 – 8:30
Sept. - May

FAMILY CHOIR

This group meets Sunday morning 5 – 6 times throughout the year. We gather at 9:15 for donuts, coffee, hot chocolate and juice before rehearsing a simple contemporary anthem to assist in leading morning worship. It is open to all (from 1 – 92!) and provides an opportunity in music for those unable to commit to a weekly rehearsal.

Family Choir
Five Sundays
Breakfast 9:15, Rehearse 9:30
Sept. - June

ST. PATRICK’S PEAL

Open to Grade 3 through Adult and often family “teams” (Mother/Daughter, Father/Son, siblings…) participate together. Music reading is not essential, though musical training happens as we rehearse. Rehearsals are scheduled on Thursday evenings before the cantoris, and run in 3-4 week sessions throughout the school year. This is an ideal choir for those who are new to music participation or are hesitant to make a long-term commitment.

St. Patrick’s Peal
By Session: Thursdays 6:15-7:00
Oct.-May

MUSIC IN MOTION

This is an offering for children grades K-2. Action abounds as these children learn about music and the church through games and drills. Songs are learned by rote and often include sign language or hand motions. The kids will have a chance to demonstrate what they learn several times during the year at the 10:00 service and for special events.

Music in Motion
Music, games, pizza!
Seven Fridays 4:30 – 5:45
Sept. - May

DRUM CORPS

Two beautiful Timpani are part of the collection of terrific instruments here at St. Patrick’s.  Parishioners from 3rd Grade and up (that includes adults!!) are invited to join in the fun.  So all of you table top drummers, why not sign up for a Sunday, schedule a rehearsal and let yourself play! 

Drum Corps
Weekday (or evening)  rehearsal
Sunday 9:15
Sept. - June

INSTRUMENTALISTS

Music at St. Patrick’s welcomes a variety of instrumentalists throughout the year. We have chamber ensembles which highlight our festival services such as Easter, All Saints’ and Christmas Eve, and solo instrumentalists join us regularly.

We also invite our youth who play musical instruments to share their talents with the congregation during worship and other special events.

HAITI MUSIC

As a component of both outreach and music, St. Patrick’s supports efforts to aid the music program at St. Etienne in Haiti. Recently we have sponsored a former St. Etienne student in his college studies at Howard University so that he might be better prepared to serve his community as a music professor.

 MUSIC ASSISTANTS

Adults are invited to consider serving on committees for our special music events. Parents of youth involved in the music program are especially encouraged to serve. Love of music and a care for the program here at St. Patrick’s are the only requirements!

MUSIC EVENTS

Sept. 9--Kick-off Sunday, Choirs return!

Nov. 4--All Saints’ Pre-Service Mini-Concert, “The Road Home”  9:30 a.m.

Dec. 9 – Youth Musical for Advent

Dec. 21--Caroling Party

Dec. 24--Christmas Eve Concerts, Brass at 4:45 before the Pageant

                 Cantoris Choir and Instrumentalists at 10:30 before Eucharist

Jan. 6--Epiphany Celebration! Spanish Guitar

Jan. 26--Winter Music Tea #1

Feb. 3—Jazz Eucharist

Feb. 23--Winter Music Tea #2

Mar. 9—St. Patrick’s Feast Day Celebration, Irish Music

Mar. 30—“The Hallelujah Chorus,”  the Congregation sings!

Apr. 2-8--Holy Week/Easter Celebrations

Apr. 12—Eric Gustafson, Piano

May 11—Mother’s Day GALA Concert

Director of Music, Adele Lynch, holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Organ Performance from the Peabody Conservatory and Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Texas . She has served St. Patrick’s since 1995.