St. James' Choirs

St. James' Church has a strong musical presence.  We have three choirs: the Adult Choir, the Junior Choir and the Children's Choir.  They rehearse and perform from early September to mid-June. 

In an average Sunday service, the congregation and choir sing six hymns, a psalm, and three selections of service music. We are always looking for new members as we are aware of how important music is to worship at St. James'.

Adult choir

To be a member of the all-volunteer Adult Choir is to be a leader of worship. The choir often sings hymns in four-part harmony. Many different styles of sung psalm are used including cantor/response, Anglican chant, and the Ionian, Portland and St. Martin's Psalter.  The choir also sings an offertory anthem in four to eight-part harmony.  On special occasions, pieces such as Lotti's Crucifixus, Allegri's Miserere, Thompson's Alleluia, and the Wilcox arrangement of Lord of the Dance are offered.

Thursday rehearsal, 7:30-9:00 pm (Sept-May) is lots of work,  but also a time of fun and camaraderie.  Feel free to try stop by and join us.

Children's choir

Our youngest choir sing simplified tunes.  They are generally too young to read, so the words are memorized and often simplified. The choir sings at special services such as the Christmas/ Epiphany Pageant, Palm Sunday and Easter.

Junior Choir

Generally from 7 to 15 years old, this choir sings music written for two or three parts. They sing at least once for every season (Pentecost-Fall, Advent/Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost-Spring).

Both the Children's Choir and the Junior Choir rehearse on Sunday mornings, after the service.

Our Minister of Music is composer Richard Lloyd. He is also a lecturer, accompanist, composer and advisor in the Theatre and Dance Department at Hamilton College.