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Our Music Ministry

Music serves an integral part of the Celebration
at St. Luke’s. The music ministry has a long-standing reputation of musical excellence that continues to serve the parish and greater San Antonio Community with a rich variety of offerings - all within the Anglican tradition. In fact, many people tell us they were initially drawn to St. Luke’s because of the quality of our music!

Contact: Director of Music, Dr. David D. Eaton (828.6425 x211).

The Parish Choir of St. Luke's is for all men and women vocalists of high school age and up. The Parish Choir leads the music and worship of the 9.00 a.m. service by singing hymns, service music and suitable anthems and motets. The music ranges from the Middle Ages to this century, and is of easy to medium difficulty. It provides an excellent opportunity for families to sing together and for adults to begin their experience with the music of the church. Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 7.00 p.m. and Sundays at 8.15 a.m.

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The Royal School of Church Music Chorister Training Program

The St. Luke’s Choirs are affiliated with The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM). The RSCM was founded in England by Sir Sydney Nicholson in 1927.

The Chorister Training Program at St. Luke’s Church exists to bring together Christians of all ages into a community in which each member is challenged to develop his or her personal, God-given musical talents to their fullest potential. The enrichment of worship in the parish is encouraged and developed by weekly rehearsal and participation. The goal of the program is the development and maintenance of a unique parish choir ministry, which is known for its musical excellence, artistry and sensitivity, and our Choristers having knowledge and commitment to the highest aspirations of the Christian community:

TO KNOW CHRIST AND TO MAKE HIM KNOWN.

The Chorister Training Program at St. Luke’s is designed to cultivate a lifetime of intellectual, musical, emotional and spiritual growth and prosperity.

The Chorister Training Program (CTP) in use at St. Luke’s comes from the method originally devised for training choristers and fostering a high level of music making in the church setting. The CTP is based on incentive and achievement, which is designed to cultivate a lifetime of intellectual, musical, emotional and spiritual growth and prosperity.

Each child’s achievement is assessed through the following five basic categories:

• General Training
• Musical Skills
• Vocal Skills
• Repertoire
• Christian Education

As children progress through the program, they are awarded for their achievements with membership in the choir, their white surplice, the RSCM badge with white ribbon, light blue ribbon, dark blue ribbon, and red ribbon, and finally a silver cross.

Choristers are strongly encouraged to attend the week-long RSCM summer course offered at various locations around the country, where they have the opportunity to work with nationally renowned church musicians and learn some of the more challenging works in the Anglican Music repertoire. Each year one Chorister from St. Luke’s is awarded the RSCM Chorister Scholarship, which provides full tuition to a RSCM summer course. Additionally, partial tuition scholarships are also available.

RSCM Motto Psallam spiritu et mente. I will sing with the Spirit and with the understanding also.

St. Cecilia’s Choristers (grades 1&2) The Starter Choir was created so that young children would be able to share in Christian musical experiences. The Starter Choir is the first step in a musical progression that will first lead them into the Children’s Choir, but more importantly into a life of musical enjoyment and service! Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 6:00-6:45 p.m. (dinner is offered starting at 5:00p.m. before rehearsal for families and Choristers); Sundays, 8.15 a.m.

St. Luke’s Choristers (Grades 3+) In the tradition of English churches, The St. Luke’s Choristers are a committed group singing at the 9.00 a.m. Sunday Eucharist. The children learn about the worship service and the seasons of the church year as they rehearse service music, hymns, and anthems for the Sunday services. They are trained according to the Royal School of Church Music scheme. Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 6:00-6:45 p.m. (dinner is offered starting at 5:00p.m. before rehearsal for families and Choristers); Sundays, 8.15 a.m.

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Evensong is a distinctive form of Evening Prayer used by churches of the Anglican Communion. It was developed by Thomas Cranmer from the medieval Latin offices of Vespers and Compline and has remained largely unchanged since 1549.

The Service begins with a seasonal sentence from Holy Scripture followed by short prayers sung by the Officiant and Choir. One or more Psalms or portions of Psalms, which have always been the core of both Morning and Evening Prayer, then follow. A reading from the Old Testament is linked to another from the New Testament by the singing of the canticle Magnificat, the Song of Mary, which gathers together the promises of the Old Testament and points to their fulfillment in the New. The canticle Nunc Dimittis, the Song of Simeon, which rejoices that the coming of Christ fulfilled those promises, leads to the affirmation of our faith in the Apostles’ Creed. Further prayers are followed by the singing of an anthem by the Choir. On Sundays a sermon may be preached on some aspect of the readings. Intercessions for the Church and for the world lead to the singing of a final hymn, which on Sundays is followed by a blessing.

As is the custom in houses of worship with a strong choral tradition, the Service music is sung by the Choir alone. The Congregation makes its offering of praise by joining in the singing of hymns and by responding to God’s love as expressed in word and music.

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2008

January 20
February 17
March 16
April 20 (No Service; Concert by
Trio Con Brio Copenhagen instead)
May 18 (with Texas Children's Choir)

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Music Staff at St. Luke's Episcopal Church

Dr. David D. Eaton, Director of Music, Organist & Choirmaster

Ms. Christiana Davis, Assistant Director of the Choristers

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