Music Ministry

“Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!”

~ Psalm 105:2

The music programs at St. David’s offer opportunities for children, youth, and adults (ages 4 and up) to become involved in the life of our parish through music. Through participation in our choir program, singers and ringers have the opportunity to grow in their faith, develop musical skills, work together in a group setting and provide musical leadership for the congregation. The choirs all rehearse weekly, lead worship on a regular basis, and participate in special services throughout the year. Many of our choirs are involved in community outreach and tour both regionally and internationally.

 Primary, Children’s & Youth Choirs

September-May

Join a Choir!

Young musicians are offered three progressive youth choirs, from ages 4 to grade 12. Each provides opportunities for growth in faith, love of singing, and worship leadership through music.

Choir rehearsals for the 2023-2024 program year will return in September during the week following Labor Day. Primary (age 4 – grade 1) and Children’s Choirs (grades 2-5) and Youth Choir (grades 6-12) rehearse on Wednesday evenings and include dinner. The Adult Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings.

Primary Choir (Age 4 - Grade 1)

Rehearsal:
Wednesdays
} 4:45-5:30 p.m.

This program starts with singing and rhythm instruments with Dr. Elaine Sonnenberg Whitelock and ends with a Christian Formation (Christian Education) activity with Maria Leal. These young choristers focus on music that communicates a direct message of God’s presence and learn anthems to be sung in worship approximately four times a year.
This year we will being teaching The Faith Guide for Littles by StoryMakers NYC.
We will dig deep into the four big topics of faith:
The Ten Commandments
The Lord’s Prayer
The Apostles Creed
The Signs of Grace
Our goal is growing our children’s Christian faith and assuring them of God’s promises to them.
For more information, please contact Dr. Elaine Sonnenberg Whitelock or Maria Leal.

Children’s Choir (Grades 2-5)

Rehearsal:
Wednesdays
} 4:45-5:15 p.m.

The Children’s Choir (Grades 2–5) meets on Wednesdays and sings at the 9:15 a.m. service about once a month. The goal of Children’s Choir is to nurture their faith through music by fostering a love of singing, learning to sing as a choir, and learning how to be a worship leader through music. Every year the Children’s Choir combines with the Primary and Youth Choirs in the annual Lessons and Carols service in December, as well as on Christmas Eve and Easter. For more information contact Dr. Clair Rozier.

Youth Choir (Grades 6-12)

Rehearsal:
Wednesdays
} 6-7 p.m.
Makeup Rehearsal:
Sundays
} 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

The youth choir sings at Sunday morning worship services and at special liturgies, including Lessons and Carols and Christmas Eve and presents a musical or talent show each year. The group is also involved in community outreach and tours both regionally and internationally, having recently traveled to Scotland, England, New York City, and Orlando, Florida. Some highlights of the upcoming year include Lessons and Carols in December, a trip to Orlando in January, and a Broadway Musical Revue in May. For more information, please contact Dr. Elaine Sonnenberg Whitelock.

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Adult Choir

Adult Choir

Rehearsal:
Thursdays
} 7:15-8:45 p.m.

The St. David’s Adult Choir, comprised of about thirty volunteers plus the support of professional singers, meets on Thursdays from 7:15 – 8:45 p.m. and sings at the 9:15 a.m. Chapel service most weeks. Evensong services are offered several times a year as well as an annual Messiah concert with orchestra in December. The choir sings a broad range of musical styles and genres from spirituals to traditional classical anthems. Recent choir trips have included Ireland in 2019, to be the choir-in-residence for a week at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, and England and Wales in 2023 to be the choir-in-residence at Litchfield and St. David’s Cathedrals. Music reading is not a requirement, just the ability to match pitch. For more information or to join the Adult Choir, contact Dr. Clair Rozier.

Locus Iste Dohnányi by Ernst von Dohnany

by St. David's Adult Choir, in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland

Instrumental Music

Handbell Choirs

The St. David’s Handbell Choirs are both intergenerational handbell choirs for youth and adults. Both groups participate in worship once a month and lead a special handbell service biannually. The ability to read music is recommended.

For more information or to join either choir, please contact Dr. Elaine Sonnenberg Whitelock.

St. David’s Handbell Ensemble

Rehearsal:
Wednesdays
} 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Bells of St. David’s

Rehearsal:
Thursdays
} 6:15 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Pageant Band

Rehearsal:
TBD
} TBD
Pageant:
Sunday, December 17, 2023
}11:30 a.m.
Monday, December 18, 2023
}7 p.m.

The Pageant Band is open to youth (Grades 6-12) and adult instrumentalists. This ensemble accompanies our pageants in December and plays on All Choirs Sunday in May. For more information, please contact Dr. Elaine Sonnenberg Whitelock.

Choir Photos

KYLE HUBER

Dr. Clair Rozier

Director of Music
  • crozier@stdavidschurch.org
  • 610-688-7947 x212
KYLE HUBER

Dr. Elaine Sonnenberg Whitelock

Associate Director of Music
  • esonnenberg@stdavidschurch.org
  • 610-688-7947 x223
KYLE HUBER

Grace Oh Kraybill

Music Assistant
  • musicadmin@stdavidschurch.org
  • 610-688-7947 x213