Choirs

The St. Mark's Chancel Choir

Under the direction of our Interim Director of Music, Jeffrey Workman, the Chancel Choir is composed of adults (older teens also are welcome) who sing September through June at their choice of the 9:00 AM. or 11:15 AM. services. The choir typically presents two anthems and leads the congregation in service music and hymns. In addition, the full choir - usually 40 voices strong – annually offers several choral evensong services and special choral offerings for feast days and Lenten services. In recent years they have participated at the annual Diocesan Convention, 100th anniversary of the Cathedral cornerstone event, a Verdi concert connected with Washington’s Early Music Festival and an ecumenical gathering of religious institutions on Capitol Hill.

Choir membership is open to all who like to sing; an ability to read music and some experience in choral singing is helpful. New members are welcome. While the general commitment is for a "semester," i.e., September-December or January-June, many choir members have been active for a decade or more! Rehearsals are held Thursday evenings, 7:30 - 9:30 PM. If you would like to join the choir, contact Jeffrey Workman, Interim Director of Music, at jeffrey.workman@stmarks.net, or Choir President Martha Connor-Donnelly at macd46@hotmail.com.

Choral Music at Christmas

The St. Mark’s Chancel Choir, directed by Jeffrey Workman, is pleased to offer a rich selection of choral music at the Christmas Eve service on December 24. Congregational caroling begins at 9:30 PM., and the service begins at 10:00 PM.

The music this year will include Bach’s “Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light”, Daniel Pinkham’s “Gloria In Excelsis” from his Christmas Cantata, and “O Magnum Mysterium” by Morten Lauridsen.

This service includes traditional carols and, along with the choir and organ, the joyful sound of a brass quintet.

Choral Offering at the National Cathedral

On Saturday, January 16, 2010, at 10:00 AM. the Chancel Choir from St. Mark’s joins the Cathedral Choir and choirs from other Parishes to celebrate the ordination to the priesthood of candidates for ordination. Emily Guthrie from our Parish will be ordained that day. This service will take place at the National Cathedral.

Lenten Evensong

A choral evensong service with the combined choirs of St. Mark’s and Christ Church Episcopal in Kensington, MD is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, February 28, 2010. This joint service is a “first” for our choir, and we look forward to sharing the experience with our two congregations at Christ Church this winter.

Recent Choral Offerings

Our choir, under the direction of Jeffrey Workman, was featured in a concert this past November “in celebration” of music at St. Mark’s. This concert included the world premiere of an anthem written and directed by David Hurd. In addition, a choral Advent Service of Lessons and Carols was sung in early December.

St. Mark’s Children's Choir and the Boys' and Girls' Choir

The children's choirs will continue in the fall of 2009 as follows:

Children's Choirs (Grades 1-3)

Sundays, 1:00 – 2:00 PM.
Music Studio
Erik Lipscomb, directing

Boys and Girls Choir (Grades 4-8)

Sundays, 1:00 – 2:00 PM.
Office of Jeffrey Workman, Interim Director of Music, directing

Interim Director of Music

St. Mark's is very pleased to have Jeffrey Workman serving as its Interim Director of Music and Organist. His goal is to provide a sustaining and meaningful creation of music in our worship services each Sunday, festival services at Christmas, Lent and Easter, and several evensong services in the year.

For many years, the music program at St. Mark’s has significantly enriched worship. The planning process involves a symbiotic coordination with the Rector, Assistant Rector, the Worship Committee, and many fellow Parishioners who help think through the Liturgy and plan parts of the services. He draws music from the church’s music library, a rich resource, as well as regularly introducing new materials. St. Mark’s is equipped with a fine Holtkamp Organ and grand piano in the chancel. The acoustics at St. Mark’s provide a superior venue for these instruments, our choirs, soloists, and visiting musicians who perform concerts in our space from time to time.

Over the 2009 and 2010 church year, the music offered will include organ, piano, choral (solo and choir) pieces drawn from traditional music, Gospel, modern, and some new offerings. Mr. Workman describes his role: “It is my goal to resonate with the worship life at St. Mark’s, to help deepen the experience of fine music for all of us.”