Our large and diverse music program includes six choirs:

three for children and three for adults.

The Training Choir (also known as ‘novice class’),

for boys and girls in grades one through three

The Girls Choir for girls in grades three through eight

The Choir of Men & Boys for boys in grades three through eight, teens and adult men

The Choir of Men & Women

The Early Music Schola

The St. Peter's Singers

 

Music for worship is offered in the hope that it will help people deepen their experience and knowledge of God. The repertoire spans five centuries, many languages, and musical forms. Liturgy is always the “work of the people,” whether it take the musical form of a congregational hymn or chant, a choral mass setting, or a festive anthem. The fine music presented at St. Peter's is the result of many hours of work by many dedicated people. The music program at St. Peter’s includes choirs for boys, girls, and adults. The boys’ and girls’ choirs are open to children of any religious background from grades three through eight and new choristers are always welcome. The children will receive a comprehensive musical education and will also develop leadership and teamwork skills. St. Peter’s two adult choirs are also open to members of all religious backgrounds. The boy and girl chorister program is one of the great strengths of St. Peter’s. Children not only learn how to sing and read music, but also develop skills within a supportive environment that will serve them well in school and in life. Please contact Brian Harlow at 973-538-0555, ext. 18 or bharlow@stpetersmorristown.org if you are interested in joining one of the choirs. These programs are offered not only to the parish but also to the greater metropolitan area, in the belief that music is one of the ways we can effectively bring the Gospel to those outside our immediate parish family.

 

Music Programs at St. Peter’s

Girls’ Choir

St. Peter's Girls Choir sings for Sunday worship every other week and meets twice a week for practice, social time and education. Education includes vocal production, music theory, sight-singing, the liturgical year, and elements of music history. The repertoire focuses on two-part treble repertoire from across the centuries, but occasionally includes four-part music sung with adults. Each girl receives a stipend that increases with experience and achievement and ribbons to signify their progress through the choir. A week of choir camp in August helps to create a sense of community among the girls and to assimilate new members. The choir sings services and concerts in the surrounding area as well as festivals with other choirs. The choir has sung services at Harvard University and has traveled to Bermuda and Canada to perform. New girls ages 7 and higher of any background are always welcome. The only requirements are a musical ear and a willingness to learn.

 

Choir of Men & Boys

Founded in the nineteenth century and one of the few choirs of men and boys in the country, The Choir of Men & Boys sings for Sunday worship every other week. The boys meet twice a week for practice, social time and musical education. Education includes vocal production, music theory, sight-singing, the liturgical year, and elements of music history. Men meet once during the week for practice. Repertoire comes from the large spectrum of music composed over the centuries specifically for male voices, including new compositions within that tradition. Each boy receives a stipend that increases with experience and achievement. A week of choir camp in August helps to create a sense of community among the boys and to assimilate new members. The choir sings services and concerts in the surrounding area as well as festivals with other choirs. The choir has made two tours to England. New boys ages 7 and higher of any background are always welcome. The only requirements are a musical ear and a willingness to learn.

 

Training Choir

For young boys and girls in grades 1-3. In this choir musical skills are developed through songs, exercises and games. The children learn to recognize and respond to differences of pitch and rhythm both aurally and through musical notation. When they have attained a certain level of musical ability they are promoted to either the Girls Choir or the Choir of Men & Boys.

 

Summer Choir

Can’t commit to a weekly rehearsal? Consider singing in Summer Choir. Anyone is welcome to come 45 minutes before the start of the service to learn a simple anthem. Come any Sundays that you are available and help lead the congregation in worship.

 

Choir of Men & Women

This semi-professional choir maintains very high standards of musicianship and dedication that are unusual for a parish church choir comprised largely of volunteers. The choir performs great sacred music ranging from Gregorian chant to living composers, singing in church two to three times a month including Choral Evensong on occasion. The choir has been invited to sing services at St. Mary the Virgin and St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, both in Manhattan. New members are always welcome. Because of the large amount of music performed and the speed of rehearsals, choir membership is by audition.

 

Saint Peter’s Singers

This is one of two new choral groups founded in the Spring of 2007 designed to require a smaller time commitment then St. Peter's other choirs. The choir rehearses twice a month and members are expected to attend at least one rehearsal a month; the choir performs an average of once a month. Its purpose is to attract singers who are interested in exploring a variety of styles of American music, such as Early American music, Southern Harmony hymns, Spirituals and Gospel music, as well as some recent compositions. New members are welcome at any time.

 

Early Music Schola

This is one of two new choral groups founded in the Spring of 2007 designed to require a smaller time commitment then St. Peter's other choirs. The choir rehearses twice a month and members are expected to attend at least one rehearsal a month; the choir performs an average of once a month. Its purpose is to attract singers who are interested in exploring Gregorian chant and music from the Medieval and Renaissance periods. New members are always welcome.

 

Music At Saint Peter’s

The concert series Music At Saint Peter’s is a concert series consisting of a variety of musical events, but focusing particularly on organ recitals and choral concerts. (The 4 manual, 63 rank E.M. Skinner Organ at St. Peter's was installed in 1930 and has remained as it was left by the builders, earning an Historic Organ Citation from the Organ Historical Society.) Special services such as Advent Lesson & Carols, Christmas Eve, Easter Vigil, Easter Day, and Evensong the first Sunday of the month are promoted as part of this music series. All of St. Peter's choirs participate in MASP events and outside performers and groups are regularly brought in to perform. Donations by parishioners and friends of music at St. Peter's, solicited each fall, make the series possible.

Carillon

John Dyer, Carillonneur, is in search of people who are interested in learning to play the carillon. St. Peter's carillon of 49 bells is one of only four traditional carillons in New Jersey (most that you hear do not have real bells!) and was the largest carillon in the USA when installed in 1924. It is one of only 118 concert class carillons in the entire USA.