St. Mark’s Choir

A Living Tradition

St. Mark’s Choir is an intergenerational community of singers that 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. 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.

St. Mark's in England

The Anglican roots of our musical tradition are a vital part of the life of the choir. Most recently, the choir went on a two-week pilgrimage to England in 2017 and offered weeklong residencies in the cathedrals of Ely and Bristol.  Previous tours have included singing in St. George’s, Windsor; Chichester Cathedral; Clare College, Cambridge;  Bury-St-Edmunds and Gloucester Cathedral in 2003, Lincoln and Durham Cathedrals in 2007, Salisbury and Truro Cathedrals in 2011, Norwich and Wells Cathedrals in 2014, and Ely and Bristol Cathedrals in 2017. In July of 2023, the choir completed their most recent pilgrimage, which involved week-long residencies in Wells and Durham Cathedrals.

Joining St. Mark's Choir

The Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7:15pm to 9:30pm and on Sunday mornings from 9:00am until the 10:00am Eucharist. Extra rehearsals for special services also occur at several times during the year.

What are the benefits of singing in the St. Mark’s Choir? 

  • The choir sings music of many eras and traditions.  Members learn about liturgy, church history, and hymnody in addition to cultivating musicianship and self-expression.
  • Singing in a choir helps one to be part of a valuable and committed team working together to enrich and enhance worship. Singing is healthy for mind, body, and soul and connects one with the heart of God.
  • Singing helps to repair the world.
  • Being part of a choir enables one to form new and lasting friendships.
  • Attitudes of self-worth are cultivated when members strive to offer to God the best of what has been given to them.
  • Participating in the choir provides access to caring individuals who support each other as a community.
  •  Creating music together helps foster leadership skills.

We are always eager and interested in auditioning new volunteer singers for the Parish Choir. You need not be a member of the parish to belong to the choir, and those of any faith are invited to audition. New participants in any of the music ministries are welcome at any time. Anyone interested in joining should contact George Emblom, our Director of Music, at music@stmarksberkeley.org.

Listening to St. Mark's

Below is a recording of St. Mark’s Choir with the church’s Flentrop organ.