Music at St. Mark's
"Those who sing pray twice." Music is and always has been an integral part of the worship and spiritual life of St. Mark's. In addition to the choirs, instrumentalists and soloists are invited to perform throughout the year. New participants in any of the music ministries are welcome at any time and should contact George Anton Emblom, Director of Music, at (510) 845-0888 or e-mail at music@stmarksberkeley.org.
St. Mark's Choir Association
St. Mark's Choir Association is open to teens and adults. The parish choir's primary responsibility is to sing at the 10 a.m. Sunday service, and at other occasional liturgies throughout the year. Rehearsals take place Wednesday evenings from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m.. The choir also has a fall retreat at the Bishop's Ranch in Healdsburg.
The choir traditionally offers a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in Advent, a choral setting of the Eucharist or a major choral work with orchestra on two "Music Memorial Sundays" (generally in May and November), and a Requiem Mass musical setting for All Souls' Day, November 2.
The choir took a two week pilgrimage to England in 2003 and sang at St. George's, Windsor; Chichester Cathedral; Clare College, Cambridge; St. Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury-St-Edmunds; and Gloucester Cathedral. In 2007, the choir took their second tour to England, singing in Durham Cathedral, and performing during a week's residency in Lincoln Cathedral.
St. Mark's recently added a choral
program centered on children.
St. Mark's Children's Choir
A recent addition to the choir has been children from the Sunday School, who join the adults following their Godly Play class.
Each is assigned an adult choir mentor to help them in their singing. This program helps to cultivate a child's singing ability and to introduce them to the musical legacy of the church.
Schola Cantorum
The Schola Cantorum is a traditional chant choir open to men which meets for rehearsals on the Second Sunday of each month, from September through June. The choir sings at the 5:30 p.m. Second Sunday Evensong, and at other occasional liturgies throughout the year.