Music
Music is an integral and important part worship at St. John’s. The 9:30am English-language service is with organ and piano, using the 1982 Hymnal and Lift Every Voice and Sing. The Psalms and responsorial are chanted, Sanctus is sung, there are usually three or four congregational hymns, and instrumental pieces played as a Prelude, Offertory Anthem, and Postlude. Guest musicians often enhance the service music with the sounds of winds, piano, strings, handbells, tympani, and brass.
Music for the 11:30am Spanish-language service is provided by a guitarist, with congregational hymns selected from El Himnario and Flor y Canto.
Instruments
We are blessed with a magnificent pipe organ, designed and built in 1957 (and rebuilt in 1989) by Charles W. McManis. St. John’s also owns a Mason & Hamlin concert grand piano (in our worship space), a Yamaha grand (in the Library), a small endowment fund to support guest musicians and music purchases, and an extensive library of choral and instrumental music.
- Listen to organ builder Charles W. McManis playing the McManis Organ at St. John’s in October 2000.
- Read more about the McManis Organ in a brochure published in 1991.
Musicians
Henry Church (guitar)
Robert Havery (organ, piano)
Bob was the Organist and Choirmaster at St. John’s from 1969 to 1986, and again from 1996 until his retirement in 2015. Since then he has come back to play regularly at our services, usually the first and second Sundays of each month. He holds Bachelor and Master degrees from Juilliard, and has played numerous recitals in Connecticut, New York, Canada and England. In 2020, Bob retired after a 52-year career of teaching music and celebrating the arts at Westover School in Middlebury. He hoped his legacy will be “that the arts are intrinsic to the life of a complete human being.”
- Watch the video “Bob Havery: A Lifetime of Music at Westover School.”
- Open the YouTube playlist “New Perspectives on Beloved Hymns” featuring Bob Havery at the McManis Organ at St. John’s Church.
Brian Ladden (ukelele, djembe)
Steven Minkler (piano, organ, bass)
Steve has been part of the Music Ministry at St. John’s since the mid-1990s, playing occasionally for both the English and Spanish services, and now once per month at the English service. Steve served as Music Coordinator from September 2015 until March 2020, when the COVID pandemic forced worship services into an online format. During his tenure as Music Coordinator, he introduced the concept of a rotating schedule of musicians with different styles and instrumentations. Beside himself, these included organists Bob Havery, Daniel Scifo, and Scott Miller; guitarist Henry Church; percussionist Brian Ladden; a rebooted Adult Choir, and a four- to six-piece Jazz Ensemble which he launched with his daughter Rosemary.
Concerts
St. John’s is a magnificent acoustical space which is used as a public concert venue throughout the year. Click or tap here for a list of some of the concerts held at St. John’s since the year 2015.
Choir
October 2023 — Choir Sundays are back at St. John’s!! The adult choir is returning under the direction of organist Robert Havery and soprano soloist Larissa Davidowitz once per month at the 9:30am Sunday service. For more information, or to join the Choir, please call the church office at 203-754-3116.
St. John’s YouTube Music Channel
Click or tap here to enter the YouTube channel.