Choirs
The Choir of Men and Boys
The Choir of Men and Boys is made up of some 20 boys and a professional ensemble of 6 to 12 adult altos, tenors and basses. The foundation is based on the Anglican Cathedral model of choir, where the boys do the work of professional soprano vocalists. 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, Newark, New Jersey, and himself a former choirboy at Grace Church, became the third Organist and Choirmaster, serving until his retirement in 1991. The fourth Organist and Choirmaster was here from 1992 – 1999. Dr. Patrick Allen then became the fifth Organist and Master of Choristers in March of 2000.
Thus, in its 131-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 in Morningside Heights and at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue. The choir school that began with sixteen boys has evolved into Grace Church School, which today comprises some eight-hundred boys and girls spanning grades pre-kindergarten through twelve.
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 of 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 works by Malcolm Archer, René Clausen, Gerre Hancock, Fenno Heath and Barry Rose.
The Choir of Adults and Girls with High School Singers
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 Girls’ Choir for young ladies was established. Five young choristers came forward to become the charter class. The Choir of Adults and Girls with High School Singers has taken its place alongside The Choir of Men and Boys and The Adult Choir in the musical leadership of the worship of Grace Church.
The Choir of Adults and Girls with High School Singers is made up of some 20 girls and a professional ensemble of 6 to 12 adult altos, tenors and basses. It is based, like the Choir of Men and Boys, on the Anglican Cathedral model of choir where the girls do the work of professional soprano vocalists. The repertoire offered by the senior ensemble is based on this tradition in SATB configuration. With the establishment of the High School Division of Grace Church School, a new High School Chorister program was begun in the choir. High school students study the appropriate vocal part and work alongside the adult singers to support the soprano part sung by the girls’ choir.
The Adult Choir
The Adult Choir of Grace Church is composed 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.
Soprano
Eileen Clark
Kath Courtemanche
Madison Spahn
Alto
Matthew Jiang
Catherine Moore
Tenor
Zachary Brashear
Maximillian Jansen
Bass
Bob Lukomski
A.J. Stetson
Join the Choirs
Please contact our Organist and Master of Choristers to express interest in joining the choirs. Parents should inquire for their children.
Alumni of the Choirs
We want to be in touch with you! Please send Dr. Allen your contact information so we can keep our records current and send you regular greetings and information about goings on. If you are planning to come into the city and would like a greeting and tour by Dr. Allen, please be in touch and make an appointment. It is such a pleasure to be able to welcome you home and show you around. Choir alumni are also invited to sing with us each year on Grace Church School Sunday in November and at our offering of Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols in December.
November
The Sunday prior to Thanksgiving Day is called Grace Church School Sunday. We also celebrate the relationship of the choir and school that weekend. At 11 am on Sunday morning, alumni are invited to join the current choir in offering the morning’s anthems. With interest and growth, we hope to expand this into opportunities for a bigger alumni musical rehearsal and social. Please share your ideas and thoughts with Dr. Allen. Music may be obtained via the links below, and a rehearsal takes place at 10:15 am in the church.
- Christ whose glory fills the skies…..C. F. H. Candlyn [PDF]
- I was glad…..C. Hubert H. Parry [PDF]
- Psalm 150 written for the Choirs of Grace Church by Malcolm Archer [PDF] [choraline.com]
December
On the Third Sunday of Advent, The Choir of Adults and Girls with High School Singers offers Choral Evensong featuring Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols. Alumni are invited to participate. Please contact Dr. Allen for music and to make a plan for preparation and rehearsal. The link below can be used to practice parts.
- A Ceremony of Carols [cyberbass.org]