Choirs at St. David

St. David’s Choir: St. David’s Choir is a group of mixed adult singers. Singing in this choir requires enthusiasm for choral singing and basic reading skills. The choir sings for the weekly 11:15 a.m. Sunday mass (from September through May), as well as several other services throughout the year such as Christmas Eve and Easter Vigil. Rehearsals are on Thursday nights, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. in the Choir Room. Sunday morning warm-up begins at 10:15 a.m. in the Gallery.

Bell Choir: The Bell Choir consists of adults and students from ninth grade up. The rehearsals are on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. and the group plays for the 9:00 and 11:15 services on the second Sunday of each month from October through May. A general knowledge of music is helpful, but we will teach you how to play. Call the Director of the Bell Choir, Eileen Nahser at 770-475-9684 for more information.

Evensong: This is a sung service of Evening Prayer, is one of the most inspiring and beautiful liturgies of the Anglican Communion. It is a worship service in which all those assembled join together in prayer, “common prayer,” as Thomas Cranmer described it in the sixteenth century. It is also a service in which music by the choir has traditionally been a central part.  There will be receptions at 5:45 p.m. in the old Parish Hall following each Evensong service.

FolkMassters: You can enjoy high quality praise music with FolkMassters, our folk music group. The group provides both traditional and contemporary instrumental and choral music for folk mass and Taizé services throughout the church year. The group occasionally provides music for informal parish activities such as picnics and other special events. For more information, please contact Carlyn Romeyn at 770-993-7540.

 

ERNEST PLUNKETT is currently the Organist/ Choirmaster at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Roswell, Ga., a position he has held since 1981. A native of Rockdale County, GA., he received his BBA degree from the University of Georgia. While at UGA, he was an organ student of Hugh Hodgson. His teachers also include Doshia Whittington and Virginia Minor. Formerly an Assistant Organist and Interim Organist/Choirmaster at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta, he is an active member of the American Guild of Organists and the Association of Anglican Musicians.

Children's Music Ministry
Susie Clements, Director

There are choirs for children four years old through elementary school age. The choirs  rehearse weekly throughout the school year and provide special music for Sunday worship and other events in the life of St. David's parish. In addition to preparing special anthems, the children learn about the music of the church through the singing of hymns and liturgy. As they learn musical concepts through the music they prepare, they are also taught the biblical concepts behind the music. Through singing, playing instruments, and movement, the children learn to give their best to God through their music.

Our director of the Children's Music Ministry is Susie Clements. She has a
Sacred Music degree from Wittenberg University, with emphasis on organ and vocal performance and choral conducting. Susie has conducted adult and children's choirs, handbell choirs, and instrumental groups for musical
productions.

 

 

 

 

 

The St. David’s children’s music program, Treble Makers which is now underweigh, consists of choirs for 4-year-olds through high school. The choirs rehearse weekly throughout the school year and provide special music for the 9:00 a.m. Sunday workshop service, various Evensong services and other musical events in the life of St. David’s parish. The children learn about God and become active participants in our worship tradition through the singing of hymns, liturgy and special anthems. As they learn musical concepts, they also learn the biblical concepts behind the music. 

Cherub Choir: 4-5-6 year olds.
Rehearsals on Sunday mornings 10:10-10:30 a.m. (before Sunday School)
All children who attend the Pre-K and Kindergarten Sunday School classes are in the Cherub Choir. We sing, move to music and learn that our “singing” (head) voice is different from our speaking voice. We practice pitch matching, keeping steady beats, and how to follow a director. This choir sings a choral introit at the beginning of the 9:00 a.m. mass 3-4 times throughout the year and participates in the Epiphany Celebration.

Primary Choir: 1st–3rd grade.
Rehearsals on Sundays 2:30-3:15 p.m. OR Wednesdays 5:00-5:45 p.m.
(choose one rehearsal a week)
Through hymn singing, anthems, and musical games we learn solfege (do, re, mi) and how to find the choir voice. We’ll use age appropriate songs in a variety of styles to learn the basics of note, rhythm and lyric reading. The Primary Choir prepares special music the 9:00 a.m. mass once a month (the 4th Sunday), participates in the Epiphany Celebration and the spring musical. Our preparation for the RSCM medals begins in this choir and is called a “graded” choir as medals and ribbons will be awarded for increasing levels of expertise. Therefore, regular attendance at rehearsals and for worship services is expected. 

Junior Choir: 4th–8th grade.
Rehearsals on Sundays 3:30–4:30 p.m. OR Wednesdays 6:30–7:30 p.m. (choose one rehearsal a week); Sunday mornings 8:15–9:00 a.m. (before the 9:00 a.m. mass)
The Junior Choir is the main service choir for the 9:00 a.m. mass every Sunday. In addition, this choir participates in various Evensong services, the Epiphany Celebration, and is the main choir for the spring musical. The singers continue the RSCM curriculum and learn more challenging treble music, sing in harmony using a variety of musical styles, learn to sing with the “best voice,” and how to follow a director. Again, as we continue as a “graded” choir, regular attendance at rehearsals and worship services is expected.