Music at Christ’s Church
Beginnings: The Cherubs
The Cherub Choir is comprised of children, ages 4 to Grade 2. The Cherub Choir seeks to instill a love of and excitement for singing sacred music in the hearts and minds of young children, and prepares them to eventually join the ranks of the older choristers. Healthy vocal production, rhythm, dynamics, and singing in tune are taught by its director, Ellen Taylor Sisson, in a loving and creative atmosphere. Rehearsals take place on Mondays from 3:30pm-4:15pm in the Parish Hall. The Cherub Choir participates in Sunday worship once per month at the 10:00am service and for special events. The service schedule will be emailed out upon registration. To register, click here.
Sharing their Voice: The Choristers
The Choristers are the youth choir at Christ's Church, with singers aged 7-15. The immersive program conducted by Music Director and Choir Master, Dr. Evelyn Troester DeGraf, not only prepares the singers to use their voices confidently in worship and builds musicianship, but also educates them in the life skill of working together in a cohesive group. Rehearsals take place on Mondays from 3:30pm-5:00pm in the Choir room. All Choristers need to be in attendance for the full 90-minute rehearsal time which will include vocal technique, music literacy, and repertoire work. The Choristers participate in Sunday worship once per month at the 10:00am service and for special events. The service schedule will be emailed out upon registration. To register, click here.
For enrolled Choristers:
A Community of Singers: The Christ’s Church Choir
The Christ’s Church Choir, under the direction of Dr. Evelyn DeGraf, is an ensemble of dedicated and experienced adult singers, professional section leaders, as well as the most advanced youth choir members. Rooted in the Anglican tradition, the offered service music and performed concert repertoire spans from early vocal polyphony to contemporary compositions. Choir rehearsals take place on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm-8:30pm and begin with an Open House on September 13. The Choir participates in worship every Sunday at the 10:00am service and for special events. The service schedule will be emailed out upon registration. To register, click here.
Rehearsal times
(check the main Church Calendar for full details)
Cherubs: Mondays 3:30-4:15pm (starting on 9/9/24) in the Parish Hall
Choristers: Mondays 3:30-5:00pm (starting on 9/9/24) in the Choir Room
CCRye Choir: Wednesdays 7:00-8:30pm (starting on 9/11/24) in the Choir Room
Dr. Evelyn DeGraf
Dr. Evelyn DeGraf is the music director and choir master at Christ’s Church Rye where she runs a vibrant choral program from young beginners to experienced vocal artists. While cherishing the roots of this highly musical church steeped in Anglican choral tradition, she also encourages a broader vocal and instrumental repertoire to reach all members of the congregation and connect the spoken liturgy to the music. Dr. DeGraf’s curriculum at CCRye is based on five central pillars that support and promote choral excellence: learning advanced vocal technique, singing in harmony, improving musicianship skills, practicing mindfulness, and exploring improvisation.
Dr. Evelyn Troester DeGraf is also the founder and artistic director of the internationally acclaimed chamber choir GHOSTLIGHT (ghostlightchorus.com), and “Chorleiter” at the German International School in White Plains. She is choir director emerita at Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen Church in Brooklyn where she served for twelve years as conductor, cantor, voice teacher, as well as assistant organist. Dr. DeGraf has also worked as adjunct assistant professor at Columbia University where she was the director of Collegium Musicum, and taught conducting and applied lessons in voice, piano, and guitar at Teachers College. She has been a guest lecturer, choral clinician, and master teacher for choirs and music organizations in both Germany and the US, including the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich, Teachers College Columbia University, the Audi Jugendchorfestival Ingolstadt, New York University, Brooklyn College, Nyack College, Rockport Choral Summit, World Scholar and Athlete Games, and the Spence School.
Dr. DeGraf’s career as a versatile musician, educator and researcher ranges from mezzo-soprano engagements at Lincoln Center to conducting choruses for The Rolling Stones at Barclays, Prudential, and Verizon Centers. She received her Master’s degree with a dual concentration in vocal performance and music education from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich, and earned the degree of Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) at Columbia University’s Teachers College with her dissertation entitled "Rituals of Leadership: The Pre-Performance Practices of Renowned Choral Conductors.”
The Organ
The organ at Christ’s Church is, in reality, two organs, one located in the Chancel and the other in the Gallery. Both are controlled from an all-electric console near the Chapel. The Chancel organ is primarily designed for accompaniment and contained two divisions- the unenclosed Great and the Choir under expression. The Gallery organ is for congregational singing, preludes and postludes and recital playing.
The tonal design of the instrument is on neo-baroque lines, beloved of the era, but also includes sounds appropriate for a wider variety of repertoire. The organ was built in 1964 by Austin Organs of Hartford, Connecticut, and was the gift of long-time parishioners, Mr. and Mrs. John Ellis Knowles.
A Prayer for Church Musicians and Artists
O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
— BCP p.819
