During the summer months St. Michael's opens our doors to various soloists, choirs and other musical ensembles who grace St. Michael's with their presence. Some of these groups have returned to St. Michael's year after year.

Groups or individuals interested in visiting St. Michael's may contact Ms. Ruth or leave your contact information at the parish office.

Beginning this past September, St. Michael's added a new choir to our faimly of musical groups! The Angel Choir, for ages 4-7. Rehearsals last from 3:30 PM until 4:15 PM in the Rehearsal/RSCM/Godly Play II Room in the New Undercroft.

Angel Choristers enjoy singing and learning church music appropriate to their age level, movement with music, some percussion instruments and a small bit of church and music history. The church and music history is experienced through a craft project that ends each rehearsal.

Parents of Angel Choristers are actively involved in the weekly life of the Angel Choir. At least two parents are present at each rehearsal and at each service when the Angel Choir sings.

Parents are also in charge of fitting and maintaining vestments for their Angel Choristers. When the Angel Choir sings at the 9:00 am service, which is their main service, vestments are not necessary. However, when they sing for special services, such as St. Michael's Day and Advent Lessons and Carols, they will be vested. For those services, two parents are in charge of getting the kids vested and ready for the processional line-up.

Novice Choristers (age 7-10), as Choristers-in-training, sing with the Choristers and Chancel Choir a minimum of one Sunday each month. If there are enough members, the Novice Choristers will also sing as an independent choir, offering anthems appropriate to their age and skill level. Their training consists of weekly RSCM group sessions (30 minutes), individual RSCM training (15-30 minutes) and rehearsals (one hour). Novice Choristers also participate in several major festivals: St. Michael’s Day, All Saints, Advent Lessons & Carols, 5:30 PM. Christmas Eve service, Easter Sunday and Ascension.

As Novice Choristers progress through the RSCM America curriculum they will earn their St. Nicholas medal and the corresponding ribbon color that indicates their level of achievement.

RSCM training: Wednesday evening, 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM, fall thru spring.

Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM., fall thru spring plus some Saturday rehearsals, 11:00 AM to Noon.

The St. Nicholas Choir consist of

• the Novice Choristers,
• the Choristers and
• young parishioners aged 7 - 21 who enjoy singing for festival services but don’t have the time or inclination to commit to year-long service.

This choir sings occasionally for St. Michael’s feasts, festivals and other occasions.

Rehearsals: Members attend rehearsals with The Novice Choristers and the Choristers a few weeks prior to each service; Wednesdays, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM.

Choristers (age 11-17) are part of the Chancel Choir. They sing every Sunday morning and at all major feasts and festivals. Chorister training consists of weekly RSCM group sessions (30 minutes), individual RSCM training (15-30 minutes), rehearsal with the Novice Choristers (one hour) and rehearsal with the Chancel Choir (30 minutes).

Special note: As our young gentlemen make the transition from treble to alto then, then ultimately, to tenor or bass, they are eased and encouraged through that process by all their choir colleagues. Once their voice settles into an adult range, they attend Chancel Choir rehearsals.

As Choristers progress through the RSCM America curriculum they will, at specified intervals, be tested. Upon successful completion of each test, choristers will receive their St. Nicholas medal with a corresponding ribbon color to indicate their level of achievement:

• Junior Chorister – Light Blue Ribbon
• Middler Chorister – Dark Blue Ribbon
• Senior Chorister – Red Ribbon
• Advanced Chorister – Yellow Ribbon

RSCM training: Wednesday evening, 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM, fall through spring.

Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM., fall through spring;  plus some Saturday rehearsals, 10:00 AM to Noon.

Festival Choir is a combination of

• the Chancel Choir,
• the Choristers and
• parishioners who enjoy singing for festival services but don’t have the time or inclination to commit to year-long service.

This choir sings for most of St. Michael’s major feasts and festivals. In addition, this choir sings three or four Choral Evensongs throughout the year, either independently or in collaboration with other parishes.

Rehearsals: Members attend Chancel Choir rehearsals a few weeks prior to each festival; Wednesday, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM (or 9:30 PM) and some Saturday rehearsals, 10:00 AM - Noon.

Chancel Choir, along with the Choristers, leads the music at our Sung Mass Worship Services. They sing music of varied origins; including traditional Anglican choral music, current anthems written by both Anglican and Episcopalian composers, choral masterworks, and outstanding contemporary anthems by composers active in other denominations. A wide range of performance options are used by the Chancel Choir – organ accompaniment, piano accompaniment, a cappella, organ with other instruments, piano with other instruments…even hammered dulcimer!

RSCM training is available to all adults: Contact Ms. Ruth to schedule individual sessions.

Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM., fall through spring busy seasons: 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM. and several Saturday rehearsals, 10:00 PM to Noon.

As an affiliated parish in the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM America), St. Michael’s is especially devoted to the musical development of our choristers through chorister training.  It is one of the most vibrant parts of our musical life of St. Michael’s.

Throughout the course of the church year, choristers (Novice thru Adult) may participate in the RSCM America curriculum. Contact Ms. Ruth to schedule individual sessions.

In addition to the year-long parish training, each summer some members of the Saint Michael’s Choristers and Chancel Choir participate in various RSCM summer music programs. The RSCM is committed to achieving the best use of good music in worship – whatever the resources, whatever the styles. The RSCM offers courses in all styles of music as well as courses instructing adults how best to reach out to teach music to young persons. We assist our youth who wish to attend RSCM summer programs by awarding scholarships to the RSCM summer programs, raising funds for scholarships through with bake sales and other fund raisers.