Thank you everyone again for all your hard work and loving support of all the work of the choirs. I am so grateful to you all!
CHORISTER RECOGNITION 9 JUNE 2019, WHITSUNDAY
How often, making music, we have found a new dimension in the world of sound, as worship moved us to a more profound Alleluia!
This has been a year of new dimensions – fun, fellowship, learning and musical growth – a season of bringing years of practice and performance into focus in the creation of beauty through music and joy filled fellowship. A fitting celebration of our first 125 years as a choral foundation.
Truly, a community for everyone celebrating excellence in music and God’s love for all.
As you enter the nave of Grace Church you pass under the words: Enter into his gates with Thanksgiving! WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR YOU!
Choirs, would you join me in thanking our congregation, clergy, staff and our families for all their support, love and prayers!
Thank you Music and Choir Steering Committees…….
These dedicated people oversee all the Musical Offerings, Fabric and every aspect of Musical and Chorister Life for our community.
Activities they support include: daily chorister life, the Thanksgiving Pie Sale, Christmas Party and Raffle, The beautiful Easter Morning Breakfast, Anniversary Concert and Reception, the greatly anticipated June Raffle, Vestment Care, Choir Parent Helper Program, Grace Church School Weekend, Recruiting, Picnics and Cookouts!. Planning for concert tours to Europe and this season, the extraordinary Choir Anniversary celebration. It also includes music staffing and the care of all the musical instruments.
As I call your names, please stand so we can show our appreciation to you all.
Mary Cannon
Terri Chase
Meaghan Cheung
Yunjae Chung
Shari Coats
Rebecca Dixon
Olivia Douglas
James Gomez
Jason Hackett
Erin Hussein
Julie McAskin
Kevin P McCoy
Marlaine Olinick
Dominique Schulte
Cara Wall
Sarah E Cogan
Dana Foote
Vicky Hurley
Kathy Keane
Ellen McElduff
Kevin Rotheroe
Erik Sorensen
Anne Zaccaro
We recognize the following people for gifts humbly and beautifully offered in support of the music of Grace Church.
Mary Cannon for leading us in creating and celebrating the Choir Anniversary.
Erin Hussein and James Gomez for organizing us and managing our Choir Parent Helper Programs.
Erin Hussein and Stacie Waring for their beautiful care and work with our vestments.
Elana Foundos and Vincent D’Onofrio with at ARTeffect for all your help and inspiration with graphics and visuals.
Jim and Anne Wroten for your amazing work caring for the website and developing the new live streaming outreach.
Kathy Keane for her continued sharing of gifts on so many levels and caring for the Platform that supports the choir schedules.
Amee Shah for her care and amazing gifts in editing the choir portraits.
Heavenly members of the Parish Choir that support the 9 a.m. service.
Six O’clock colleagues, David LeSueur and Jim Ferraiuolo
Eileen Clark for her beautiful work administering the schedule and personnel of the Adult Choir.
Adult Singers for your beautiful offerings all season on your own, with the Parish Choir and your support of the Chorister Program.
Amy E. Bartram
Eileen D. Clark
Peter Gruett
Melissa Kelly
Nathan Riehl
Suzanne Schwing
A.J. Stetson
Marsha Young
Jacob Reed for all your help and musical support as our second Yale Institute of Sacred Music Organ Scholar and congratulations as you come to the end of your appointment as our Organ Scholar. God bless you in all you do.
Congregation please join me in thanking these amazing people.
This year following choristers had perfect attendance for the entire year.
As their names are called they should stand to be recognized.
George Cheung
Abby Gomez
Chiara Gorman
Eva Gorman
Leo Lewis
Philip Molina
Sander Olinick
Alexander Skrypek
Jun Ross
Thomas Seirer
Ruby Shlachter
Mina Wai
Lachlan Whelan
We recognize six junior choristers who have shown outstanding growth during this choir season, both musically and in their leadership skills. They receive this year’s most improved chorister award. Would you please stand to be recognized.
Mina Wai
Eva Dixon
Grace Majoros
Johnny Laskas
Thomas Seirer
Lachlan Whelan
We continue three awards named for former Organists of Grace Church. Combined they served the Parish for ninety-eight years – laying the foundations for the choral tradition we now care for and enjoy.
The James Helfenstein Award is named for the First Headmaster and Choirmaster of the Choir of Men and Boys for whose education Grace Church School was founded. It is given to a chorister in thanksgiving for the example offered in service of God and community. These are best summed up in the words of Saint Paul – “I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also.”
This year it goes to:
Lila Hussein
The Ernest Mitchell Award for Musical Leadership is named for Mr. Helfenstein’s successor. It was under Mr. Mitchell the choir achieved legendary excellence. It was under Mr. Mitchell that his successor, Frank Smith sang as a boy. Besides his musical excellence and that of his choir, Mr. Mitchell is frequently thought of for his down to earth nature and humility. This award is given to a chorister in thanksgiving for gifts humbly offered which lead to the continued musical growth and health of the choirs of this church.
This year it goes to:
Sarah Weber
Frank Cedric Smith Choirmaster succeeded Mr. Mitchell and served Grace Church from 1960-1992. Mr. Smith is remembered by all his choristers for the twinkle in his eye, the warmth of his spirit and his love of Bach and Britten.
This award recognizes that chorister who demonstrates a deep passion for music and bring an exuberant joy to the life of the choirs.
The recipient is:
Esmé Towles
The 8th grade class of Senior Choristers who graduate from the Choir this year.
Taber Cannon, Optima
Julia Geniesse
Kiera Hackett, Optima
Lila Hussein
Eleanor Livings
Esmé Towles
Sarah Weber.
Rafael Bruder
George Cheung, Optimus,
Alexander Skrypek
James Spindler
Prayers
For Education
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom: Enlighten by your Holy Spirit those who teach and those who learn, that, rejoicing in the knowledge of your truth, they may worship you and serve you from generation to generation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
For Musicians
O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven, be ever present with your servants who seek through music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant 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.
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