Grace Church | MUSIC AT GRACE

A History of The Choirs

The Grace Church Choir of Men and Boys was established in 1894, and in the fall of that same year the Church established a Choir School for the academic and musical training of the boys.

James M. Helfenstein served both as Organist and Choirmaster and as Headmaster of the School. He was succeeded as Organist and Choirmaster in 1922 by Ernest Mitchell, who was brought to New York from Trinity Church, Copley Square in Boston. Mr. Mitchell served Grace Church with great distinction for thirty-eight years. Upon his retirement in 1960, Frank Cedric Smith, then organist at Grace Church in Newark, New Jersey, and himself a former choirboy at Grace Church, became Organist and Choirmaster. Mr. Smith retired in 1992 and was succeeded by Bruce G. McInnes, Organist and Choirmaster, who came from Christ Church Cathedral in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Mr. McInnes retired in the fall of 1999 and Patrick Allen became Organist and Master of Choristers in March of 2000.

Thus, in its One Hundred Eight year history The Choir of Men and Boys at Grace Church has had only five directors. It is the oldest resident Boy Choir in continuous service in New York City, and its school served as a model for the Choir Schools at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine on Morningside Heights and at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue. The Choir School which began with sixteen boys in 1894 has evolved into Grace Church School which today comprises some four hundred boys and girls spanning grades pre-kindergarten through eight.

During its distinguished history this Choir was the first to have its Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols televised nationally. The Choir has sung on many occasions at the major concert halls in New York City including participation in performances of Mahler's Eighth Symphony and Massenet's Hérodiade at Carnegie Hall. New anthems are commissioned regularly for the Grace Church Choirs including most recently works by René Clausen, Fenno Heath, Barry Rose and Gerre Hancock.

As part of the celebrations surrounding the Centennial of The Choir of Men and Boys in 1994, and with the support of the Rector, Wardens, Vestry and People of Grace Church, The Saint Cecilia Choir for young ladies was established. Five young choristers came forward to become the charter class which today comprises seventeen choristers. The Saint Cecilia Choir has taken its place along side The Choir of Men and Boys and The Adult Choir in the musical leadership of the worship of Grace Church.

In the summer of 2004 members of both choirs celebrated the first decade of the Girls’ Choir and the 110th Anniversary of the founding of the Choir of Men and Boys and Grace Church School with a ten day residency at The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity at Bristol, United Kingdom. Members of the choirs with many of their parents and siblings traveled to Bristol to sing a week of daily Cathedral services which included repertoire by mostly American composers including Candlyn, Copland, Friedell, Hancock, Ossewaarde, Rorem and Sowerby. Much of the repertoire offered were UK premieres.

The residency began with a joint Eucharist sung with the Choir of Men and Boys of Bristol Cathedral and resulted in much fellowship in the coming week between the choristers and their families of both foundations. The choristers of Grace Church were joined at each service by six choral scholars (alto, tenor and bass), most of whom are or have been choral scholars amongst several of the celebrated choral foundations kept by College Chapels in Cambridge, and other professional musicians in area Cathedral Choirs.

Most of the current choristers are students at Grace Church School, but membership is open to all with an eager spirit, sharp ear, and willingness to make a commitment to the tradition which they become stewards of upon taking up a seat in one of the choirs.

Parents interested in this opportunity for their child(ren) should contact the Master of Choristers at 212.254.2000/110 to set up an interview. Please click here for additional information.

The Adult Choir of Grace Church is made up of nine professional singers. The lower six members of this choir provide the alto, tenor and bass parts to the treble parts sung by the boy and girl choristers. The sopranos of the choir originally sang on occasions when the choristers were on holiday during the academic season and in the summer months. In recent years they have distinguished themselves by special offerings and take their place as an integral part of the musical fabric of Grace Church. For special liturgies and musical offerings the number in the choir is adjusted to a size appropriate for the occasion.

In the Fall of 2006 the Parish Choir will take it’s place in the Music Program of Grace Church. This ensemble is open to any teen or adult with a wish to enjoy the fellowship of the community through the offering of great choral music. This choir will begin to sing weekly at the 9 o’clock a.m. Sunday service on the first Sunday of October through Memorial Day weekend. Rehearsal’s take place on Wednesday evenings from 7 o’clock to 8 o’clock p.m. in the Chantry. In the spring they will offer a portion of Part III of Handel’s MESSIAH. Contact the music office if you would like to participate.

The Choral Society is an outreach program of Grace Church and is open to all without a requirement for church affiliation, only an interest in offering great sacred choral works in the setting for which they were created is necessary. At the current time, over one hundred strong, they rehearse on Tuesday evenings in the Chantry Chapel and offer annually three programs with Orchestra. For further information see the section of this site which gives schedule and interview information. The Choral Society website can be found at gracechurchchoral.org. For further information about interviews, please contact the Music Office or the conductor, John Maclay via email: johnmaclay3@yahoo.com.

Music Department At Grace Church

Patrick Allen, Organist and Master of Choristers

Patrick Allen, Organist and Master of Choristers at Grace Church in New York, previously served as Director of Music and Fine Arts at Independent Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, Alabama. Prior to that appointment he served as Associate Organist at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, New York, Director of Music and Organist at both The Cathedral Church of Saint John and Congregation Beth Emeth, in Wilmington, Delaware. In the summer he is on the faculty of the Baroque Performance Institute held at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, Oberlin, Ohio. With Catherine Rodland, he co-authored The Chorister Training Program of The Royal School of Church Music in America, an American adaptation of the English Model SING ALOUD.

Allen has received degrees from the University of North Texas and The Florida State University. He was awarded the degree Doctor of Musical Arts and The Performer's Certificate in Organ from the Eastman School of Music as a student of Russell Saunders. In Amsterdam, Allen studied with Gustav Leonhardt and Veronika Hampe. In 1988 he was a finalist in the American Guild of Organists National Open Young Artists Competition. He has been heard as a soloist on the organ and harpsichord throughout the United States and Europe and in many chamber music programs, especially with violinist Mary Hoyt in the duo SOUNDS RESOUNDING. He has recorded with The Saint Thomas Choir on the Koch and Priory labels. Allen has given numerous workshops on The Chorister Training Program and frequently is guest conductor, including the RSCMA Hartford Summer Course for Girls.

Stephen Tharp, Artist in Residence

Stephen Tharp is the first person to be appointed Artist in Residence at Grace Church. This position was created in the Fall of 2007. Having held a similar position for nearly two years at Historic St. Peter’s Church, Perth Amboy, NJ - the oldest Episcopal parish in the state - he also served as Associate Organist at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Manhattan, from 1998-2002, and was Organist at St. Patrick’s Cathedral from 1995-1997. A native of Chicago, Stephen received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Illinois College (Jacksonville) and his M.M. from Northwestern University.

Known today as the most traveled concert organist of his generation, his 30 intercontinental tours and over 800 U.S. recitals have included performances at such venues as the Royal Albert Hall, London; Cologne Cathedral, Germany; Tchaikovsky Hall, Moscow; the Hong Kong Cultural Centre; the Crystal Cathedral; the Riverside Church, NY and the Kimmel Center, Philadelphia. He as 12 commercial CDs to his credit and is married to Maria Helena Tharp, Organist at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church here in Chelsea.