Music Ministry

Given the unique history of our Parish, it should come as no surprise that the Anglican musical tradition - one of the great glories of Western Christendom - enjoys pride of place in our worship at St. Thomas More. It is a tradition that encompasses the robust singing of hymns by the likes of Charles Wesley, Isaac Watts, John Newton, and John Mason Neale; choral music by British and American composers from the Renaissance to the present day; and a particular way of singing the Psalms called Anglican Chant. It reaches back to the Catholic traditions of Gregorian Chant and the hymns of St. Ambrose and St. Thomas Aquinas, and is also forward-looking in its use of excellent contemporary music and hymnody being written today.

The Parish Choir
In keeping with the Anglican Cathedral choral tradition, our Parish Choir is intergenerational, including adult singers, teens, and young treble choristers, trained to a high degree of proficiency to be able to sing challenging music alongside their older counterparts. Choristers in grades 2 through 7 rehearse on Wednesday afternoons in our Choir School program, including not just choral rehearsal but careful instruction in healthy vocal production and how to read musical notation. There is not a mid-week rehearsal for the adults and teens, who rehearse at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings, one hour prior to the 10:00 a.m. Mass.

There is no audition for entry into the choir at either the adult or chorister level; the only requirements are a love of singing and the ability to keep a commitment. Interested adults, or parents of prospective choristers, are encouraged to contact Music Director Paul Campbell at campbell@stmscranton.org.

The videos below include a glimpse at our musical tradition as it is carried out in the great English Cathedrals, as well as a superb 4-part history of our musical heritage.