Everyone that participated in the 2009-2010 Music Programs are most heartily thanked, and we had another wonderful year of great music and fellowship!  A full schedule of choirs will return in the Fall, but until then, anyone with a love of good music may join our Summer Choir which meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Choir Room and sings at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Eucharist.  Sing one Sunday, or throughout the entire Summer!

+Christ Church is affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music, America+
Christ Church is committed to providing a first-class music program for both its parishioners and the larger community.

H. David Pulliam, Organist and Choirmaster
Nancy Booker, Martha Edmiston, and Celia Scouras, RSCM Assistants

Junior Choir Rehearsals (September-May):
St. Nicholas -- Thursdays, 3:15-4:00 p.m.
St. Francis -- Thursdays, 3:45-5:00 p.m.
St. Gregory -- Sundays, Noon-1:30 p.m
Adult Choir Rehearsals (September-June):
St. Christopher -- Thursdays, 7-8:30 p.m.

Highlights of the 2009-2010 Season were:
Virginia Museum of Natural History Open House, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 4:30-5 p.m.
Lighting of the City Christmas Tree, Historic Courthouse, Friday, Dec. 4, 5-6 p.m.
Advent Service of Choral Evensong, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m.
Advent Service of Lessons and Carols, Sunday, Dec. 20, 10:30 a.m.
Christmas Eve Service with Pageant and Eucharist (Senior Girls only), Dec. 24, 4 p.m.
Christmas Eve Choral Prelude, Dec. 24, 10:30 p.m.
The Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, Dec. 24, 11 p.m.
Council Festival Choir, St. John's, Roanoke, January 31 4:30 p.m.
The Sung Order for Compline: March 3, 10, 17 7:30 p.m.
RSCM Carolinas Treble Festival, March 13-14
RSCM Sunday, May 16, 10:30 a.m.
Choral Evensong (with St. Timothy's, Winston-Salem), June 6, 4 p.m., CEC Nave
RSCM Carolina Course, July 12-18
RSCM Charlotte Course, July 19-25

The Choirs

Saint Nicholas Choir - Primary Choir
The St. Nicholas Choir is open to boys and girls in kindergarten through second grade. Using beginning RSCM VOICE for LIFE curriculum, the Saint Nicholas Choir explores the fundamentals of music through the introduction of clef reading, beginning music theory, rhythm, and age-appropriate choral training. This ensemble rehearses on Thursdays, 3:15-4:15 p.m. and sings at appointed times throughout the year. There is no audition. This ensemble vests in only the blue cassock, as the cotta is presented upon graduation into the St. Francis Choir.

Saint Francis Choir - Junior Choir
Open to girls in grades 3-7 and to boys from 3rd grade until the voice changes, this ensemble sings at Sunday's 10:30 a.m. Rite II service, as well as at other appointed times throughout the year. The Choir meets in the Undercroft at 3:45 p.m. on Thursdays, rehearses from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., and meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. in the Nave. There is no audition for choristers graduating from the St. Nicholas Choir. For others, the ability to read with reasonable ease and the ability to easily match pitch are required. The Saint Francis Choir utilizes the Royal School of Church Music's graded VOICE for LIFE program. For more information on VOICE for LIFE, please visit www.rscm.com/education/vfl.php

St. Gregory Choir - Senior Girls Choir
This ensemble is open to young women in grades 8-12. Focusing on more advanced repertoire, musicality, and theory, this ensemble also utilizes RSCM training curriculum. Choristers wishing to join the St. Gregory Choir that have not completed a minimum of one year in the St. Francis Choir are required to schedule an audition. This ensemble meets from 2-3:30 p.m. every other Sunday and rehearses in the nave at 9:45 a.m. on Sundays. The St. Gregory Choir also sings at other appointed times throughout the year.

Saint Christopher Choir - Adult Choir
The St. Christopher Choir sings music selected from the great repertoire of the church: from plainsong to Byrd and Mozart, Howells and Britten to composers such as Richard Shephard and Calvin Hampton. Open to adults, this ensemble regularly sings at the 10:30 a.m. Rite II service on Sundays (except in July), as well as other appointed times throughout the year. The St. Christopher Choir rehearses on Thursdays from 7 until 8:30 p.m. and on Sundays in the Nave at 9:45 a.m. The St. Christopher Choir also gathers at various times throughout the year for fellowship and relaxation, helping to build the strong sense of community which is an integral part of our worship.

The Instruments

W. Zimmer & Sons, Organ Builder, two manuals and pedal, 1984, Opus 329
Mechanical Key Action, Electric Combination Action

A.H. Dupree, Harpsichord Builder, single manual Flemish-style, 8' x 8' and buff stops

Malmark Handbells, Three-Octave set
These bells, rung by members of the choirs, are heard at various times throughout the year: during the Eucharistic Prayer at the elevation of the elements, accompanying an anthem, or in solemn Procession.

Tower Bells
The bells located in the tower were cast at a foundry in the Netherlands in the Flemish style and were installed by the Verdin Company of Cincinnati--North America's oldest bell and clock company. The bronze bells ring an American Peal, signifying the beginning of services and other events in the life of the parish.

About Our Organist and Choirmaster

A resident of Winston-Salem, NC, H. David Pulliam received the Master and Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance from the North Carolina School of the Arts where he was a Kenan Organ Scholar and student of Dr. John Mitchener. Further study was at the Calgary International Organ Academy under Simon Preston, Sarah Baldock, and David Higgs.

His performances, described as "...remarkably fine" by Classical Voice of North Carolina, have been at the Episcopal Cathedrals of Vermont and Alabama; St. James In The City (Episcopal), Los Angeles; the National Basilica; Foundry United Methodist and the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, Washington, DC; Bruton Parish Church, Williamsburg, VA; Jack Singer Concert Hall, Calgary, Canada; and various other venues. His performances have been heard on National Public Radio's Pipe Dreams and on various affiliate stations in Virginia and North Carolina. He has been a featured performer at the national conventions of the Organ Historical Society, the Hymn Society of the United States, and the Music Teachers National Association.

As a collaborative artist, Mr. Pulliam has been heard at the National Cathedral, Trinity Parish on England's Isle of Wight, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and in Venice, Rome, and Florence. Most recently, he collaborated at the Piccolo Spoleto festival in Charleston, SC, and at the National Black Theater Festival with the Winston-Salem Youth Chorus. David has served on the faculty of the North Carolina Governor's School, as Housemaster for the RSCM Carolina Course for Girls and Adults in 2008 and 2009, and was invited to present a workshop regarding the benefits of being an RSCM Affiliate at the Diocese of Southwest Virginia's 2010 and 2011 Annual Council.

Besides his duties at Christ Church, he is accompanist for the Winston-Salem Youth Chorus and serves as the Collaborative Vocal Pianist and Vocal Coach at Salem College. He is a member of the Association of Anglican Musicians, the American Guild of Organists, and the Royal School of Church Music.

About RSCM America

RSCM America is the branch of the Royal School of Church Music in the United States. Their goal is to uplift the spiritual life of communities through high quality choral music. The RSCM provides musical education to singers through a structured choral music program and summer music courses, and provides support to music directors through an organizational forum which facilitates the exchange of knowledge and ideas. Through efforts to raise the quality of choral music performance, RSCM has touched the lives of multitudes of singers and listeners.

About the Association of Anglican Musicians

The Association of Anglican Musicians is an organization for professional musicians and clergy who are members of the Anglican Communion or who work in a cathedral or parish within the Communion.

Recognizing that the music of the church finds its primary expression within the framework of the liturgy, this Association takes as its purpose the elevation, stimulation, and support of music and the allied arts in all their aspects in the Anglican church, and especially in their relationship to liturgy.

Music Links

www.rscmamerica.org
www.carolinarscm.org
www.anglicanmusicians.org
www.agohq.org