St. John’s choir will join the choirs of St. Clement’s Church and St. Matthew’s in St. Paul for evensong at St. Clement’s on April 22 at 4:30, preceded by an organ prelude at 4 p.m. The choirs will sing the Requiem of Eliza Gilkyson, which St. John’s choir sang here several weeks ago, in commemoration of the first anniversary of the tsunami in Japan, along with the evening canticles by Herbert Murrill and an Anglican chant psalm.

On May 6 our choir will sing an Eastertide Evensong at St. John’s at 4 p.m. Following the service the choir and soloists will sing the Easter portion of the Messiah, including the Hallelujah Chorus, by George Frederick Handel, accompanied by full orchestra. The soloists will be Linda Zelig, soprano; Krista Palmquist, alto; Craig Lemming, tenor, and David Jacobson, baritone. The guest organist will be Dr. Dean Billmeyer, of the music faculty at the University of Minnesota. A free-will offering will be received to benefit the Winifred Bean Evensong Fund. A festive reception will follow in the Fireside Room. For further information about either of these services, please contact Jim Frazier at 651-228-1172 x38.

Festival Musical Events for 2011-12

All events are at 4:00 p.m. except where noted. And a free-will offering is received except where noted.  A reception also follows each event in the Fireside Room.

November 6, Evensong for All Saints Day, followed by a concert performance of a Bluegrass Mass with the nationally known bluegrass band Monroe Crossing.

December 18: A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

March 18: Evensong for Lent, followed by a performance of the Mass in E-flat for double chorus, by Josef Rheinberger

May 6: Evensong for Eastertide, followed by a performance of the Easter portion of the Messiah, by George Frederick Handel

All of the 4 o’clock services are followed by a reception in the Fireside room.  Please mark these dates on your calendar. Invite your friends and neighbors to join you for these memorable musical performances. Everyone is welcome to attend!

If you would like to help ensure that the tradition of Festival Evensong services at St. John’s will continue, please make a donation to the Winifred Bean Fund.