Music
Contact: Sonya Sutton, 202-363-8286 x205 or sonyas@st-albans-parish.org
Music is among the most joyful offerings we give to God, every Sunday, and at parish events and special services. It allows our spirits to soar, allows us to articulate beyond words our feelings of jubilation or yearning, of praise and wonder. Music helps us to summon the Holy Spirit in a very direct and personal way.
There is a way for everyone to be involved in music at St. Alban’s Parish—whether as a dedicated choir member, an occasional instrumentalist, or an enthusiastic congregational singer. Even the engaged listener has an important role!
“Music is an endowment and a gift of God … it also drives away the devil and makes people cheerful … I place music next to theology and give it the highest praise.” —Martin Luther
Choirs & Music Groups
St. Cecilia Choir
Boys and girls in 1st and 2nd grades learn the basics of singing hymns and service music as they prepare anthems and learn the responsibilities of leading worship. The St. Cecilia Choir rehearses on Wednesdays from 3:30–4:15 pm. The choristers sing approximately once a month at the 9:15 Children’s Chapel.
St. Alban's Choristers
This choir is for young people in 3rd through 8th grades. The Choristers rehearse on Wednesdays from 4:15–5:30 pm and sing approximately twice a month at the 9:15 service and at other special services. This choir offers a wonderful opportunity to develop musical skills, to lead worship and to develop lasting friendships.
Canterbury Choir
Open to all teenagers and adults without audition. Its members range from those who don’t read music at all to those with professional experience. They sing approximately three times a month, September through June. Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings from 7:30–9 pm.
Salisbury Choir
Open to anyone by audition, this choir sings for the 11:15 am service September through June. Rehearsals are on Thursdays, 7:30–9:30 pm.
The Alban Singers
This professional ensemble of singers sings every Sunday for either the 9:15 am or the 11:15 am service and for other events and special services. They serve as section leaders in the Canterbury and Salisbury Choirs as well as singing as a separate choir. If you are interested in auditioning, contact Sonya Sutton.
Angelus Ringers
Handbell ringing is great fun and is an easily acquired skill. The bells contribute a special quality to our worship services. The Angelus Ringers play a three octave set of Whitechapel bells once or twice a month at morning services and for special services. Adults and teenagers with music-reading skills are welcome to join. Rehearsals are on Saturday mornings from 9:30–11:00 am.
St. Alban's Organ
The construction of the new organ for St. Alban’s by Di Gennaro-Hart Organ Company, Washington, is completely unique. The organ, instead of standing on its own building structure and framing, was designed and built to be suspended on structural steelwork from the roof of the Church. This design, developed by parishioner Marc Fetterman, AIA, offered the only viable solution to easing the architectural clutter associated with traditional organ support structure, while preserving the fine aesthetic of St. Alban’s Church.
Additionally, all of the mechanical systems: blowers, bellows, windlines, tremulants, expression shade motors and electrical relays, all of which would normally be housed within the organ’s building structure, had to be hidden. The solution at St. Alban’s involved hiding most of these mechanisms in the ceilings of the two sacristies and running concealed windlines through the walls and into the organ’s windchests. The balance of these components were concealed beneath the new floor in the south organ trancept.
The Dedicatory Recital was played by Dr. Norman Scribner and Sonya Sutton on September 20, 1998. Financial resources for this organ and chancel renovation were provided anonymously in order that all thanks and praise may be given to God.
The Di Gennaro-Hart Organ Company was founded in 1987 by Michael Hart. The St. Alban’s organ represents the firm’s third project completed on the Cathedral Close, following restorations of the organs in the Cathedral College and Bethlehem Chapel.
St. Alban’s Di Gennaro-Hart Organ specifications and stop list (PDF) »
Concerts
Music CDs
To order, include $4.00 postage per order and send checks, made payable to “St. Alban’s Parish,” to:
Sonya Sutton
Director for Parish Music Ministries
St. Alban’s Episcopal Church
3001 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016
Spiritual Corners of the Piano Repertoire Sonya Subbayya Sutton
$15 · purchase online
Music of Liszt, Bach-Busoni, Messiaen, Eben, Respighi and Brahms
Russian Exile
Piano works by Vadim Platon Netchvolodoff
Sonya Subbayya Sutton, piano
$15
Charming, brief vignettes by a composer who left his country during the Russian revolution
For This Cause
Choral music performed by
St. Alban’s Senior Choir
Dr. Norman Scribner, Director
$15
Choral works by Sowerby, Bairstow, Howells, Dirksen and others