St. Michael's Music

For the last two decades, St. Michael’s has been a parish known for musical diversity.  Yet, within the varied fabric of many musical styles and expressions, one thread has remained constant:  commitment.  What you’ll discover in St. Michael’s Music Program is commitment to musical stewardship, commitment to our different choir families and commitment to a loving Lord, the Great Giver of all our musical gifts.

Under Ms. Ruth Witt, Director of Music, traditional Anglican repertoire, classic choral anthems and modern choral compositions that portray the beauty of excellent musical craftsmanship are very much alive at St. Michael’s.  We are also compelled to explore the musical variety the Episcopal Church offers, singing gospel music from Lift Every Voice and Sing and contemporary music from Wonder, Love and Praise.

Choir members train musically, liturgically and spiritually to serve as worship leaders within the parish.  A combined curriculum of vocal instruction, choir rehearsal, music theory, music history, lectionary study, Anglican Church history and in-depth study of the Book of Common Prayer is administered throughout the choir year.  The result for any choir members who fully commits to the program is an experience rich with musical beauty, artistic challenge and spiritual depth. 

Ms. Ruth Witt

Ruth Witt has been Director of Music at St. Michael’s since October 1987.  Over the span of twenty years, she has built a music program founded on the principles of the Royal School of Church Music.  The formative goal in this tradition is the development and nurture of outstanding children, youth and adults through the creative disciplines of vocal instruction and choral music. 

Educated at Indiana University and the University of Kentucky, Ms. Witt holds degrees in Organ and Church Music, with minors in Choral Conducting and Music Theory, as well as post-graduate work in vocal development and performance.

You may contact Ms. Ruth at music@saint-michaels.org. 

• Chris Mattingly, guitar;
• Jack Shields, bass; and
• Tim Wix, percussion. 

Music is an integral part of worship at St. Michael's.  Please refer to one of the pages listed for further information regarding the specific choir of interest.

• Novice Choristers (age 7-10)
• Choristers (age 11-17)
• Chancel Choir (adults – 11:15 Service)
• Festival Choir (Combined choirs for festival events)

We suspend our regular choirs during the summer.  We use this time for special music presentations by individuals, small groups and guest choirs.  Please contact Ms. Ruth Witt if you wish to present music or have an idea for music during a Sunday worship service this summer. 

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 – children, youth and adult – through chorister training.  It is quickly becoming one of the most vibrant parts of our musical life of St. Michael's. 

Contact our music director with specific requests for information or performance requests. 

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. 

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). 

Chancel Choir, along with the Choristers, leads the music at our Traditional Worship Service.  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! 

Festival Choir is a combination of:

• The Chancel Choir
• The Choristers
• 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 in this diocese or the Diocese of Kentucky.