Chorister program
St. Matthew’s has a place for every child who wishes to sing in choir. The three divisions of our Chorister program provide a first-rate musical education in a friendly, fun, and safe environment. These choirs are a vital part of our worship, and their music enriches the whole community. Each of these choirs rehearses once a week and then meets on the Sundays they are called to provide musical leadership at the 10:00am service.
All of our choirs are completely free and are open to anyone, regardless of musical experience or faith background. The choir year runs from September to June, but new members are welcome at any point. To register, click the button below and return the form to Andrew Leslie Cooper, Director of Music Ministries and Organist.
Cherubs
Kindergarten
Rehearsals: Tuesdays 4:00–4:45pm. Staff & chaperones will be present earlier for anyone arriving early from school.
This group offers children their first pathway into the joy of singing. Collectively, they discover how to find their singing voices and how to join them together to produce a beautiful tone. Using simple songs, they are introduced to the written language of music and how to read it, as well as the fundamentals of healthy singing technique. Alongside this learning, they have plenty of opportunity for play and socializing. The Cherubs spend the first few months of the choir year learning the basics. From there, they participate in approximately once service per month.
Junior Choristers
Grades 1 & 2
Rehearsals on Thursdays 4:00–4:45pm. Staff & chaperones will be present earlier for anyone arriving early from school or other activity.
Building on the skills they began as Cherubs, Junior Choristers spend two years deepening their understanding of music, what it means to be a Chorister, and their role in the Church. As they continue to hone their musical skills, Junior Choristers advance their literacy of written music and deepen their understanding of vocal technique. The complexity of their repertoire gradually increases, and this challenge offers them musical and personal growth. In addition, they begin to participate more in worship, helping lead the Sunday service music once or twice per month.
Senior Choristers
Grades 3–8
Rehearsals on Thursdays 5:00–6:00pm.
This group comprises a range of ages, and therefore offers a rich social atmosphere. As Senior Choristers, these children have the important task of leading worship through music most Sunday mornings at 10:00am. Spending these formative years carrying out this duty in the church can empower them, ignite valuable self-confidence and maturity, and nurture a lifelong love of music. At the same time, they have fun and build friendships. The years they spend as a Chorister offer them a formidable musical education. As part of this training, we rely on the RSCM’s Voice for Life scheme. As Choristers pass through the various levels of this program, they are awarded medals to wear with their choir robes.
Director of Music Ministries and Organist
