Choir
The Saint Paul’s Choir
The Saint Paul’s Choir numbers 40 singers and rehearses weekly from mid-August through May on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-8:30 p.m. and Sunday mornings from 10:00 – 10:40 am. The choir sings the 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning service, Evensongs in the fall and spring, and at special worship services throughout the season including the Independence Day celebration on the Sunday morning closest to the 4th of July.
The choir is comprised primarily of volunteers with additional support from section leaders. Auditions are not required to join the choir. You don’t have to be a soloist or even a member of Saint Paul’s. If you can sing and blend with others, contact Keith Shafer in the music office today, kshafer@saintpauls.org or 706.724.2485.
Tours have been a regular part of choir life and have included visits to cathedrals in England, Scotland, Canada, Bermuda, and the U.S. During the most recent tour, April 2018, the choir traveled to Greece and Turkey and sang at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Athens.
Children & Youth
Canterbury Choir (Grades 3-9)
The Canterbury Choir, directed by Keith Shafer, is comprised of two groups of young people who rehearse separately as well as together and includes children in grades 3 through 6 and teens ages 12 through high school. The old singers rehearse on Wednesday afternoons from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and the younger singers rehearse from 5:00 to 6:00 pm. Refreshments are served before rehearsals. The Canterbury Choir rehearses at 10:30 a.m. prior to the 11 a.m. service.n Sunday mornings.
What Parents Want to Know: The Canterbury Choir is much more than a children’s choir. Mr. Shafer believes that young children are capable of singing challenging music and playing an important role in worship. As choir members, the children, not only train their voices, but learn what they are singing: concepts, vocabulary, and the historical context of the Christian faith. As they continue in the program, they gain poise and confidence in performance and learn essential teamwork and leadership skills. Our graduating high school seniors consistently name their time in the Canterbury Choir as among their favorite memories at Saint Paul’s. Singing in the Canterbury choir gives youth and children a lifetime love for music and their own connection to worship.
What Children Want to Know: The Canterbury Choir is FUN. The Children and Youth who sing in the choir WANT to be there. Weekly choir practices begins with an after-school snacks and fellowship. Annual Choir high-lights include: A Trip to the Bell Tower, Christmas and End-of Year Celebrations & a Lock-in to kick off the season.
Saint Nicholas Choir (Grades K-2)
The Saint Nicholas Choir is an introductory choral experience for children in kindergarten through second grade that teaches the basics of singing & reading music, working together with others, and understanding the teachings of the Bible in relationship to the music being sung. Most importantly, the Saint Nicholas Choir gives younger children the opportunity to have a specific role within the worship service and helps them to see themselves as a vital part of the congregation and corporate worship.
The Saint Nicholas Choir sings at the 11:00 a.m. service five to seven times throughout the school year. The choir meets every Wednesday at 5:00 for refreshments and play time, followed by rehearsal from 5:00 – 6:00 pm. Victoria Hammond is the director and Nikki Wickware is the accompanist. Rehearsals are held in the Children’s Ministry Center.
