Music Program

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Thanks to our German heritage, with its unsurpassed repertory of church music, to the historic Müller & Abel organ that was installed just after the church was built in 1895, and to the church’s renowned acoustics, St . Joseph’s has a longstanding tradition of fine music.

Although the music at St. Joseph’s is primarily at the service of the Eucharistic liturgy, there are also non-Eucharistic musical events such as our annual service of Carols by Candlelight in December as well as concerts and recitals which are scheduled during the course of the year .

St. Joseph’s has also hosted a number of choirs and orchestras from around the world including the New York Concerti Sinfonietta, Khorikos, the United Nations Singers, the Pomona College Choir, the San Lorenzo Ruiz Choir, The Manhattan Girls' Chorus, Paderborn Cathedral Choir (Germany), Emmanuel College Cambridge choir (UK), and Sidney Sussex Cambridge choir (UK) .

In addition to the Müller & Abel organ, St. Joseph’s also possesses a J.W. Walker mechanical action practice organ, a Neupert double manual harpsichord, and a Baldwin grand piano.

The Parish Choir is the principal choir of St . Joseph’s, directed by Alistair Reid. It is a mixed semi-professional choir comprising eight professional singers as well as experienced volunteers. Standards are high, but it’s not all hard work – the choir is a very friendly group, enjoying not only the singing but socializing too.

The repertoire for this upcoming season includes music by Tallis, Victoria, Bach, Handel, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Stanford, Rachmaninov, Faure, and Duruflé. Our choir rehearses once a month on Wednesday evening from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM and we sing at the noon Mass on Sunday morning (September to June).

The children’s choir rehearses every week and sings once a month during the school year. In addition to learning to serve the Mass through music, the children are taught the fundamentals of proper vocal production, basic musicianship, and musical confidence. We welcome new children in second grade and above. 

For more information, please contact Alistair Reid.

For more information about the music program, please email us at stjosephs.musicdirector@gmail.com.

Alistair Reid, MA FRCO

Organist and Director of Music