Choir & Musicians
Mark Edw. Childers, Organist & Choirmaster
Since moving to Santa Fe 11 years ago, Mark has served as organist for First Church of Christ, Scientist, Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Community, and as Pontifical organist for the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Mark has also maintained a successful career in business management and marketing, and stays very involved in the community as Director of the historic Loretto Chapel and serving on the Board of Directors of the Santa Fe Desert Chorale.
The Parish Choir of the
Church of the Holy Faith
The Church of the Holy Faith Parish choir is a vibrant spirit-filled community that supports the parish in music making and liturgy that praises God and exalts the Spirit.
“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” —Matthew 18:20.
Music can definitely be performed by one person – one voice crying in the wilderness. However, the power of the Spirit is definitely manifest in our gathering together to praise God through our corporate worship. We offer performance opportunities, fellowship, and creative renewal. The Choir is open to men and women; Holy Faith Church membership is not required.
Goals
* To offer an opportunity for a quality music making in the Anglican tradition
* To communicate all music performed as prayers of the Spirit
* To lead congregational singing, not only when singing from the chancel, but also when singing as part of the congregation
Lord, accept the song that we offer to Thy glory. —Jean Racine
Time Commitment
Regular Required Services
· 40 Weeks of Wednesday Rehearsals & Sunday Mornings, approximately from the first week of September until June (Trinity Sunday) as adjusted to the liturgical calendar for the year
· Wednesday night Rehearsals are 2 hours long from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, unless additional time or another day is requested in advance
· Currently the choir sings for the 11 am service with a warm-up scheduled at 10:15 am.
· There will be no Wednesday rehearsal the weeks after Christmas and Easter
Special Services Required
Christmas
Christmas Eve: 2 services
Holy Week (dates are based on liturgical calendar each year)
Maundy Thursday (one service) and Good Friday (one service)
Easter Vigil Saturday Evening
Easter Sunday: 2 Services
Attendance
The expectation is that you will make every effort to be here for all Wednesday rehearsals, Sunday services, and required Special Services as scheduled. If you cannot make a scheduled rehearsal before either a Sunday or Special Required Service you may not sing the service without the permission of the Director of Music Ministry, who may request additional rehearsal time with you before granting permission.
Optional Services
The following is a list of additional services that are generally provided each year.
· Ash Wednesday: noon and evening service
· Early service on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day service
· During the year, usually one each quarter, will be an Evensong or a special musical/liturgical service
· Each summer singers are encouraged to vest and lead the congregation in worship as they are able. One anthem will be scheduled for the communion and a rehearsal will be held at 10:15 am to prepare it.
· Any other scheduled Church liturgical event upon request
Sample Repertoire Performed in the past three years
Renaissance Music by Byrd, Tallis, Morley, Gibbons, Phillips, Hassler, Palestrina, Lasso, Issac, des Prez, Gabrielli, and Victoria
Baroque Music by Bach, Purcell, Blow, Vivaldi, Handel, Monteverdi, Cavalli, Lotti, Schuetz, and Charpentier
Classical Music by Joseph Haydn, Michael Haydn, Mozart, Wesley, Goss, and Telemann
Romantic Music by Schubert, Brahms, Bruckner, Mendelssohn, Saint-Saens, Faure, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Stainer, Stanford, Perry, and Elgar
20th Century Music by Vaughan Williams, Walton, Holst, Bairstow, Britten, Willan, Harris, Howells, Thompson, Tittcomb, Noble, Manz, Copland and Ireland
Contemporary works by Gerald Near, Alan Ridout, Francis Jackson, John Michael Luther, Joel Martinson, John Taverner, Ned Rorem, and John Rutter
If you have additional questions, please contact Mark Childers, 505.690.9237, or email him at medw.childers@gmail.com
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