St. John's endeavors to offer a balance of musical styles, but the overall character of our music falls within the perimeters of traditional Anglican choral music.  Recognizing that our purpose is ministry, rather than performance, we strive for excellence in all that we do.  A meaningful worship experience cannot come out of poor preparation and, as has been said by so many, God is deserving of nothing less than our best.


Senior Choir
The Senior Choir practices on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 - 7:30 (mid-August - May) and sings at the 10:30 a.m. service on Sundays. The choir also sings for various special services throughout the year, such as those liturgies associated with the seasons of Advent/Christmas (Advent Lessons and Carols, two services on Christmas Eve) and Lent/Easter (Tenebrae on Wednesday of Holy Week, Maundy Thursday evening service, Good Friday noon service).

As opportunities arise, we participate in diocesan choral events. In recent years, St. John's choir members were part of the Anglican Celebration Choir, a combined diocesan choir that performed at Piccolo Spoletto, and joined with Episcopal choristers throughout the state to sing at Washington National Cathedral for South Carolina State Day in 2003.  St. John's choir had the opportunity to sing again at the Cathedral for the 2007 SC State.  Our singers joined with singers from All Saints' Episcopal Church (Florence), St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Conway), Darlington Presbyterian Church (Darlington), and Columbia's Árpád Darázs Singers to present a program of unaccompanied sacred music prior to the Cathedral's primary service.

We hosted a regional choral workshop with organist/composer Robert Powell in September 2004. 

In May 2006, we celebrated the premiere of a commissioned anthem with a hymn festival.  The choir commissioned composer James Biery to write an anthem - based on Habukkuk 3:3b, 17-19a - in memory of recently deceased choir members.  Mr. Biery conceived the hymn festival and served as organist/conductor for the event.  (The anthem is titled "Yet I Will Rejoice in the Lord" and is available from MorningStar Music.) 

This past September, Dr. Scott Bennett, organist and choir master of Grace Church in Charleston and internationally known concert organist, conducted a regional choir workshop at St. John's.  The day concluded with an organ concert by Dr. Bennett followed by choral evensong.  It is our intent to continue to offer such regional events on an annual basis.

The choir takes vacation during the month of June (after Pentecost).  Professional caliber guest musicians provide prelude and offertory music on those Sundays.  During July and the first two weeks of August, the choir rehearses at 9:30 on Sunday mornings.  Wednesday rehearsals resume in mid-August.

New singers are always welcome.  Though it helps to be able to read music, it is not a requirement.  Members are expected to attend rehearsal on a regular basis and to be present when the choir is scheduled to sing for a service.  Those interested in joining the choir are asked to call Tammy Williams at 662-5585.

Youth Choir
The Youth Choir was revived in 2005 after a long absence.  Currently, the choir is open to students in grades 4-8.  Rehearsal is held on Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30, September-May.

In addition to singing for the 10:30 service on the fourth Sunday of the month, the Youth Choir joins the Senior Choir for Advent Lessons and Carols and the early service on Christmas Eve. The choir presented a cantata ("Cool Hymns for Kids") in May, an endeavor that will be an annual event.  The choir looks forward to such future endeavors as traveling to sing at other churches and participating in choir retreats and festivals.

Guest Musicians

Guest instrumentalists join the choir as dictated by the music or liturgy.  We are blessed to be able to call upon professional musicians and professional-caliber student musicians who play oboe, trumpet, strings, and flute.  We also endeavor to provide opportunites for young parish musicians to play.  Such opportunities provide them with good performance experience, as well as a means by which to offer their time and talent to the parish.

Concert Series

In February 2006, St. John's initiated a new annual event: St. John's Epiphany Concert Series.  On the Sundays of the Epiphany season, Evening Prayer precedes a 45-minute concert.  Refreshments and fellowship follow.  In 2006, guest musicians included The Firenze String Quartet; The Francis Marion University Gospel Choir ("Young, Gifted and Blessed"); and the soprano/tenor husband and wife team, Eric and Erin Figueras.  2007 Series guests were the Savannah Grove Gospel Choir, the Assembly Saxophone Quartet (from USC), classical guitarist Christopher Berg, and the Coker College Chamber Singers.  2008 guests included La Catrina String Quartet, Zefiro Flute Trio, and the Árpád Darázs Singers