Diverse music of a high standard is greatly valued at St Jude’s in its liturgies and as a means of reaching out to the community. In addition to music’s central role in services through its two choirs and occasional instrumentalists, the vitality of St Jude’s music program is evident in Jazz Vespers, Evensong, and the Celebration of the Arts series, in which choristers have performed larger choral works such as Vivaldi’s Gloria and joined with groups like Intrada Brass. Special services and other events can extend at times into its lush garden or Victoria Hall, broadening their scope.
Some of St Jude’s popular musical traditions include the annual spring concert, December Lessons and Carols service, and a caroling outreach in Oakville neighbourhoods, where parishioners join with choir members to spread Christmas cheer. With its musical excellence, St Jude’s is positioned as a thriving faith-based arts centre for the broader community, in keeping with the music program’s core mission of embodying and encouraging the love of Christ through music for its congregation and beyond.
The Choirs of St. Jude’s
11:15 Choir
The 11:15 Choir has long enjoyed a reputation for excellence, adhering to a high musical standard. This accomplished and enthusiastic group currently includes two paid section leads and 30 volunteer singers. Entry is by informal audition. The repertoire, drawing from St Jude’s extensive music library, focuses on the finest music in the Anglican choral tradition, with settings of the mass, canticles and motets from the 16th century to the present. This choir also takes part in St. Jude’s monthly Choral Evensong, an annual Remembrance Day Requiem, Carol service, Palm Sunday Cantata and May choral concert. The Choir’s tours in North America and the U.K. have included venues such as the Mohawk First Nations community at Tyendinaga, St. Thomas’s Fifth Avenue, Winchester and Ripon Cathedrals and Romsey Abbey, to name but a few. There are a limited number of places in the 11:15 choir, with a maximum membership of 35.
Its regular schedule includes:
- Rehearsals every Thursday, 7:30 – 9:30 pm, September – June.
- Sunday Eucharist at 11:15 am (rehearsal at 10:30am)
- Choral Evensong, 4:00 pm monthly on the third Sunday, September – June.
Click on the link to see and hear the 11:15 choir during a recording session: HymnToTheVirgin.wmv
9:30 Choir
The 9:30 Choir is open, without audition, to anyone who enjoys singing. We currently have 12 members and would be happy to welcome more! In addition to offering a short anthem, this choir supports congregational singing and complements family ministry for which there is an annual Christmas pageant. The music is attractive and varied, yet not difficult to learn.
Its regular schedule includes:
- Rehearsals every Wednesday, 7:00 – 8:00 pm, September – June.
- Sunday Eucharist at 9:30am (rehearsal at 9:00 am)
Click here for audio of Jazz Mass on May 5, 2019
The Organ
The Phoenix digital organ is being enhanced by the addition of a Casavant organ to create a hybrid instrument, which will be completed the summer of 2021. The style of voicing used makes possible the accompaniment of the large body of church music from the Anglican tradition and beyond, in addition to the majority of the solo repertoire. It has 50+ stops over 3 manuals.
Celebration of the Arts
Dear COTA subscribers, patrons and supporters:
In keeping with provincial guidelines and protocols sanctioned by public health officials, St. Jude’s Celebration of the Arts cancelled the remainder of the 2019-2020 season in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We have a mailing list of patrons, subscribers and followers to whom we send out occasional updates and greetings by email and snail-mail; if you would like to be on our list, please send your information to info@oakvilleconcerts.com. We will also be posting any news of upcoming events and a return to concerts here.
Please call (905) 844-3972, or email us at info@oakvilleconcerts.com for any other inquiries.
We hope to see you all again soon!
Alison McTavish, Artistic Director
St. Jude’s Celebration of the Arts
