Adult choir
By Dr Justin Appel, Director of Music
Do you love singing? Does the prospect of serving in a lay ministry excite you? Would you like to join a vibrant and collegial community?
If so, look no further than Saint Philip’s choir program!
Our choir will give you great opportunity to develop your voice. Singing every week in rehearsal and Sunday service will strengthen your voice and increase your natural range.
Singing is such a healthy activity! In our choir, one spends significant time breathing deeply, contemplating rich texts, and working together with colleagues toward a common goal.
Together, our choristers and musicians make a deep contribution to the Sunday service. We see this work as a ministry, not an entertaining performance. Beautiful, well-sung, and substantial music helps us fulfill St. Paul’s injunction to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1).
Our music is offered directly to God in the context of worship, which we believe is done in a heavenly space, surrounded by the angels and saints in heaven. Singing in the choir allows us to join the angelic hosts who ceaselessly cry “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts.”
You will experience the possibility of growth musically and spiritually. Our choristers persevere through sizable projects and achieve good results. At the same time, everything is done in the service of the church’s mission and worship, which gives us camaraderie. We always start our rehearsals with prayer.
Saint Philip’s has two choral opportunities:
The Choir of Saint Philip’s sings Sunday services at 10:00am and one or two concerts each year. We rehearse on Thursday evenings, 7:00pm-9:00pm, with occasional dress rehearsals on Saturday mornings. This group is open to all interested participants. You will thrive in the choir if you have some singing experience and can read music.
The Schola Cantorum sings with the Saint Nicholas (youth) Choir for 4:30pm Evensong twice per month and rehearses just before that service. This choir requires faster rehearsing and a sizable repertoire and is open by invitation of the Director of Music. It also serves as the Visiting Choir during UK Residencies.
The commitment to either of these ministries is significant, but we feel that solid commitments bring the best rewards. Our choir folks are dedicated and enthusiastic church members.
We would love to find a place for you in one of our choirs—or both! Please reach out directly to me at justin.appel@stphilipstucson.org, and I will be delighted to discuss your interest. Our Adult Choir Retreat kicks off the season on September 5-6!
