Music at St. Alban's
St. Alban's is blessed to have a remarkable music program under the leadership of Dr. Stephen Keyl, Music Director and Organist. There are a parish choir, youth choir, separate handbell choirs for adults and youth, and special musical accompaniment during the Christmas and Holy Week seasons. The exceptional Fritts Organ is regularly heard during Sunday services.
Parish Choir
St. Alban’s Parish Choir enriches worship services with anthems and with musical leadership for congregational song. Consisting entirely of volunteers from the parish, the choir sings at the 10:00 service from late August through early June and at special services throughout the year. Repertory is wide-ranging, from classics of the Renaissance and Baroque to Gospel favorites, spirituals, and Latin-influenced anthems. The Summer Choir meets summer Sundays at 9:00 to rehearse an anthem and sing it that day—a great way to check out the choir informally with no long-term commitment.
Highlights of the choir year include the All Saints’ Sunday service involving a major choral work with instruments, the Service of Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve service, music for Holy Week and Easter, and the Independence Sunday celebration.
Choir rehearsals are Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 and Sunday mornings from 9:00 to the start of the 10:00 service.
Young People's Choir
The Young People’s Choir rehearses fall through spring and presents anthems at the 10:00 service about once a month. Highlights of the year include special anthems on the Sunday after Easter and at the 7:30 p.m. service on Christmas Eve. The Young People’s Choir is open to all St. Alban’s youth first grade through middle school regardless of previous musical training.
Rehearsal time is coordinated with parents at the start of the fall season. We currently meet on Fridays from 5:15 to 5:45 p.m. Parents are welcome to attend all rehearsals.
Handbell Choirs
St. Alban’s owns four and one-half octaves of Malmark handbells and three octaves of hand chimes, and has two bell choirs to ring them. New members are welcome. Handbells are rewarding but require commitment; ringers are asked to inform the director in advance when they must miss a rehearsal.
The Adult Handbell Choir is open to all adults within the parish. The group rehearses Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 and performs at both the 8:00 and 10:00 services about once per month.
The Youth/Adult Handbell Choir is a mixed-age group open to youth and adults from the parish. We rehearse Sunday mornings following the 10:00 service and perform anthems when they are ready, normally at the 10:00 service.
Organ, piano and harpsichord
St. Alban’s is blessed with an organ of surpassing quality. Built by Paul Fritts & Company of Tacoma, Washington, the organ has 22 stops on two manuals and pedal. Key and stop action are mechanical. The organ is heard regularly at Sunday worship, special services, and in an annual series of concerts.
St. Alban’s Episcopal Church Tucson also owns a Kawai grand piano and a Zuckermann Flemish III harpsichord. Both are heard regularly at services.
St. Alban’s Parish Choir enriches worship services with anthems and with musical leadership for congregational song. Consisting entirely of volunteers from the parish, the choir sings at the 10:00 service from late August through early June and at special services throughout the year. Repertory is wide-ranging, from classics of the Renaissance and Baroque to Gospel favorites, spirituals, and Latin-influenced anthems. The Summer Choir meets summer Sundays at 9:00 to rehearse an anthem and sing it that day—a great way to check out the choir informally with no long-term commitment.
Highlights of the choir year include the All Saints’ Sunday service involving a major choral work with instruments, the Service of Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve service, music for Holy Week and Easter, and the Independence Sunday celebration.
Choir rehearsals are Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 and Sunday mornings from 9:00 to the start of the 10:00 service.
Young People's Choir
The Young People’s Choir rehearses fall through spring and presents anthems at the 10:00 service about once a month. Highlights of the year include special anthems on the Sunday after Easter and at the 7:30 p.m. service on Christmas Eve. The Young People’s Choir is open to all St. Alban’s youth first grade through middle school regardless of previous musical training.
Rehearsal time is coordinated with parents at the start of the fall season. We currently meet on Fridays from 5:15 to 5:45 p.m. Parents are welcome to attend all rehearsals.
Handbell Choirs
St. Alban’s owns four and one-half octaves of Malmark handbells and three octaves of hand chimes, and has two bell choirs to ring them. New members are welcome. Handbells are rewarding but require commitment; ringers are asked to inform the director in advance when they must miss a rehearsal.
The Adult Handbell Choir is open to all adults within the parish. The group rehearses Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 and performs at both the 8:00 and 10:00 services about once per month.
The Youth/Adult Handbell Choir is a mixed-age group open to youth and adults from the parish. We rehearse Sunday mornings following the 10:00 service and perform anthems when they are ready, normally at the 10:00 service.
Organ, piano and harpsichord
St. Alban’s is blessed with an organ of surpassing quality. Built by Paul Fritts & Company of Tacoma, Washington, the organ has 22 stops on two manuals and pedal. Key and stop action are mechanical. The organ is heard regularly at Sunday worship, special services, and in an annual series of concerts.
St. Alban’s Episcopal Church Tucson also owns a Kawai grand piano and a Zuckermann Flemish III harpsichord. Both are heard regularly at services.