The Cathedral Ensembles
The Choir of the Nativity
The Choir of the Cathedral Church of the Nativity is one of the Lehigh Valley’s pre-eminent sacred music ensembles, singing weekly at Choral Eucharist as well as Evensongs and other special liturgies throughout the year. This dedicated group of choral musicians rehearse weekly and maintain a large, challenging, and diverse repertoire of choral works appropriate for each of the seasons of the church year. The Choir sings anthems and motets weekly, Choral mass settings on Festival Sundays, and Anglican chant at most services.
The Choir season usually runs from after Labor Day through Trinity Sunday. The Choir is open to people of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. It can be a place for someone to develop into a musician, or for an experienced singer to find a community in which to make music. If you are interested, please email Canon Dr. Nicholas Halbert at musicdirector@nativitycathedral.org to schedule a meeting and musical introduction.
The Cathedral Schola
The Nativity Schola is a semi-professional chamber choir composed of the Cathedral’s staff singers and auditioned volunteer singers. This group specializes in the interpretation of chant and choral music from the Renaissance and early Baroque. They can be heard at various liturgies throughout the year and additionally serve as a support ensemble singing the lower three parts with the Nativity Choristers.
The Nativity Choristers
The Nativity Choristers is a music education program for youth between eight and fourteen years old. The Choristers rehearse weekly and regularly sing at Mass and Evensong throughout the year and are participants in some of the principal liturgies of the church year, including Christmas Lessons and Carols, Easter mass, and Pentecost. As the only RSCMA (Royal School of Church Music America) affiliate program in the Lehigh Valley, we are proud to offer a thorough musical training with curriculum in music theory and aural skills in addition to choral training. Choristers develop their vocal ability under the guidance of professional vocal coaching. In addition to the emphasis on American and British choral repertoire, Choristers regularly sing music from across the world in numerous languages including Latin, Spanish, German, French. For many young people, Chorister programs have been significant experiences which grow leadership skills, encourage collaborative approaches, and create lasting friendships. Nativity Choristers receive a small stipend for their work and dinner is provided after each rehearsal.
Chorister programs are a unique musical tradition for children singers which began in Medieval European cathedrals and churches and have continued to grow and evolve into modernity. Successful and flourishing chorister programs are active in nearly every large and thriving Episcopal church across the United States. These programs are unique because Choristers are trained to sing the uppermost (treble) line in the context of a full choir, and sing the same kinds of repertoire as the adult choir sings. In many cases, this music was actually written for choirs of children and adults in its original context. Because of this, children in Chorister programs develop the type of musical skills expected of adult participants, and are encouraged to strive for similar standards. Choristers hold a semi-professional role in the musical life of any Cathedral and are an integral part of the choral community there. While the program is challenging, it is a teamwork-oriented activity, and the environment is always meant to be fun and exciting. For countless Chorister alumni across the world, these programs have proven to be a life-changing introduction to choral singing, sacred music, and active participation in the arts.
If you interested in the Nativity Choristers, please contact the Canon Precentor, Dr. Nicholas Halbert at musicdirector@nativitycathedral.org.
Spanish Mass Band
Music at the Spanish Mass is offered by a group of volunteer singers and instrumentalists led by our Director of Spanish Music Ministry, Michelle Pérez. They rehearse before the service each week and lead the congregation in a repertoire of hymnody and contemporary song. This ensemble is open to both singers and instrumentalists, please contact the Canon Precentor, Dr. Nicholas Halbert, at musicdirector@nativitycathedral.org for more details.