We are pleased to be instituting a new choral college Intern program at St. Paul's. I will be mentoring Bridget Nixon, a sophomore music concentrator from Brown University, in her role as director of St. Paul's Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) Youth Choir. Bridget was a member of the Senior division of the Elm City Girls' Choir in New Haven, CT for six years. Her responsibilities included teaching music theory and ear training. She has also held Choral Scholar positions at two churches in the greater New Haven area. She is a member of the Brown Chorus, a conducting student, and member of the a’ capella group "The Higher Keys." Bridget is a very talented singer and music theorist, and has a great sense of humor!

The RSCM program is a great opportunity for the youth of our church to develop their talents. (See the letter from Ellen Abell elsewhere in the Communicant). St. Paul's Youth Choir will be open to 4th graders and above and will meet in the Chapel following Church School, Sundays from 11:00AM -12 noon. The youth will learn music reading skills, ensemble skills, proper breathing, and spiritual concepts.

St. Paul’s Youth Choir will be helping provide music with the other RSCM Youth Choirs from the state at the RI Diocesan Convention to be held at St. Luke's Church on Nov. 11 as well as upcoming Advent Lessons and Carols and Christmas services. Please contact me at 294-4357, ext. 106 or at coffee hour to take part!

As of this writing, teams of leaders are forming who will be working musically with the younger children (kindergarden-3rd grade) during church school. If you have music abilities you could share in this capacity, please let me know.

The Parish Choir is going on our annual retreat to St. Matthew’s Church, Jamestown October 1. We will have a guest vocal workshop with the very talented Ms. Kathryne Jennings who has taught voice at Brown University since 1990. She is a well-known soloist throughout the United States and has many prize winning students. This team- building day will continue with lunch and rehearsal. Please contact me if you would like to take part!

Please join us for St. Michael and all Angels Evensong Sunday October 2 at 5:00pm St. Paul’s Church. The Parish Choir will sing the Evening Service in e by the English composer William Child (1606-1697) and the motet “Danksagen wir alle Gott,” by the German baroque composer Heinrich Schütz. Schütz (1585-1672) studied with Giovanni Gabrieli at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice. St. Mark’s is famous architecturally for it’s chancel which has two choir lofts facing each other. This influenced the composition of music and the development of double choir or “polychoral” music . Schütz is responsible for bringing the “polychoral” style from Venice back to Germany where he ultimately settled. Bach himself adapted the polychoral style in his music.

One of our other special October offerings will occur Sunday October 23. The music for that day will honor the Hungarian composer Franz Liszt (1811-1886) whose 200th birthday would be October 22. The Parish Choir will sing the amazingly moving and chromatic “Ave verum.” Voluntaries will adorn the liturgy by this master keyboardist who lived throughout Europe in a fashion larger than life, but was also a Franciscan brother.

All Saint’s Day will be celebrated on Sunday November 6. Because “Choir Alumni Sunday,” was so much fun last year, we decided to have it again this year on All Saint’s. Anyone who has sung with St. Paul’s Parish Choir is welcome to sing with us that day, no vesting necessary. We will be singing the hauntingly beautiful motet ”Lux aeterna” from Rutter’s Requiem as well as “Lacrimosa” from Mozart’s Requiem. I do ask that you pick up the music in advance from the choir librarian or myself and attend at least two rehearsals! Save the date for ADVENT LESSONS AND CAROLS: SUNDAY DECEMBER 11 at 4:00pm St. Paul’s. All of the Choirs take part in this service of traditional readings and music for the Advent season.

I would like to thank our Interim rector, the staff, the vestry and people of St. Paul’s for your gracious support of the music ministry at St. Paul’s.