Music Ministry at St. Paul’s
The music ministry is under the leadership of Mary Jodice, Music Director at St. Paul’s since October 2024. She plays the organ and piano for worship services and works with a music committee which includes the Rector and several parishioners. Hymns, psalms, service music, anthems, and other sacred music for worship services are chosen according to the scripture readings and themes for the day, season, or special celebrations. The music repertoire spans many centuries and musical styles, ranging from traditional to contemporary. Music at St. Paul’s is chosen to give glory to God through our worship, and to support and inspire congregational singing.
Music Notes
Via email on most Friday mornings, Mary sends a write-up about some aspect of worship music at St. Paul’s. Very often it includes background information and a reflection about one of the hymns or other music that will be part of that Sunday’s worship service. To receive the Music Notes each week sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of the page.
St. Paul’s Choirs
St. Paul’s is blessed to have a growing choir program! Our wonderful Adult Choir sings the 10am Eucharist Service every Sunday from September to June. There is no audition required for this choir. We teach music reading, sight singing and work to a good standard of Anglican Church Music. We sing music from the Renaissance to modern composers and everything in between.
The choir sings special music for: Evensong, Christmas, Holy Week, Easter Services and Lessons and Carols.
The Adult choir rehearses Thursdays from 6:30pm-8:00pm and Sunday at 9:00am for the 10am service. All are welcome to join.
The Chorister Choir is for young singers 7 years old to 18 years old. This is a non-auditioned choir. We follow a Royal School of Church Music, Voice for Life program for learning to read music and for sight singing. The Chorister Choir sings once a month with the adult choir at the 10am service. They rehearse Thursday afternoons from 4:30-5:30. We have fun with movement, conducting, and learning music. We include some formation and history of St. Paul’s and the Episcopal Church. Most of all we learn to be in community and sing with our choir friends. All are welcome to join!
Summer Choir is held every Sunday during the summer. All are welcome to come at 9:00am and learn the hymns to sing at the 10:00am service. This choir starts after Trinity Sunday.
Please email Mary Jodice, Director of Music for more information on any of the Choirs.
The St. Paul’s Choir is joined by the Jubilate Chamber Choir on occasion to sing Evensong and Requiem concerts - learn more in the concerts section below.
Instruments at St. Paul’s:
The organ in the main church at St. Paul’s is a 3-manual Austin pipe organ (1923, rebuilt 2000). It is a fine instrument for accompanying choral and congregational singing, as well as for performing solo literature. In January 2020, with the help of many enthusiastic donors, St. Paul’s purchased a 1968 Steinway Model B 6’11” concert grand piano. This instrument is in superb condition and will serve the church and community in worship, recitals, and to accompany instrumental and choral ensembles. There is also 5’6” Steinert grand piano in a rehearsal room on the lower level of the church.
St. Anna’s Chapel has a one-manual, fourteen-stop William Stevens tracker organ (1863), restored in 2013 by the Andover Organ Company. The chapel also has a 5’3” Schafer and Sons grand piano, thanks to a generous Newburyport resident in 2019. Both the main church and the chapel are known for their outstanding acoustics.
The Concert Program
Concerts are a vibrant part of our church life and St Paul’s outreach to the community. We’re delighted to host some of the finest classical music in New England through our partnerships with the Newburyport Chamber Music Festival, Grammy-nominated Skylark Vocal Ensemble, and the Ballets Russes Arts Initiative, which features outstanding musicians from the former Soviet Union. In addition, we offer community concerts featuring talented local groups and individuals, including Cantemus Chamber Chorus, Newburyport Choral Society, Jubilate Chamber Choir and more. Click to learn more.
O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise
to the rock of our salvation! (Psalm 95:1)