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. 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 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 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 Malcolm Archer, René Clausen, Gerre Hancock, Fenno Heath and Barry Rose.
The Choir of Adults and Girls with High School Singers
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 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. 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.
Choir Photo Archive
Alumni of the Choir
Choir alumni are 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. If you would like to sing with us, please contact Dr. Patrick Allen.