Singing in a good choir is much more than a typical after-school activity. Here at St. Paul's, choristers are introduced to the world of great music—from classic hymns to Renaissance motets, Bach in German, English anthems and Gregorian Chant. Great emphasis is given to music-reading skills, with each child receiving significant individual attention.

 

Choristers quickly mature in their responsibility of leading regular worship services.  Few children's choirs aim to master a large body of complex music and perform weekly. With its strong parish and parental support, our choir program continues to flourish in discipline, consistency and excellence. Each Sunday at 9am the Girls Choir, along with adult singers, offers works drawn from its large repertoire. As Sunday draws to a close, The Choir of Men and Boys gathers to sing Evensong, a service of psalms, scripture and choral music, beloved by Anglicans and Anglophiles the world over.

 

Extraordinary cultural opportunities await the choristers, who have performed with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center under the baton of such luminaries as Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos, Leonard Slatkin and Christopher Hogwood. Beyond our musical work together, we share many occasions of fun and fellowship. Lifelong friends are made as choristers and as choir parents; carpools, sleepovers, day trips and parties, enriched by the wonder of making music together, encourage a bonding rarely found in other activities. Our summer choir camp held at Washington Cathedral is a week of daily singing, energetic activity and community building. Similarly, many choristers attend our affiliated sleep-away choir camps held at locations throughout the country. These experiences become a treasured part of their memory.

 

Since few children, especially boys, can envision the enjoyment and reward of a choir experience, parental initiative is critical when considering membership. No prior training or experience is expected of prospective choristers, nor need their families be affiliated with St. Paul's or any particular religious tradition. We accept boys from ages 7 to 11, girls from ages 7 to 17. Children may enter the choir at any time. Please contact the Music Director, Mr. Robert McCormick, for further information or to arrange an interview. Apart from incidentals relating to travel or social events, there is no tuition cost expected of parents. Instead, your commitment of time and energy balances St. Paul's investment in the hundreds of teaching hours needed to make our choir thrive. A small stipend is paid each chorister, based on leadership and performance, underscoring the seriousness of his/her commitment.