Music Ministry at Saint Andrew’s
Dear Saint Andrew’s Parishioners and Friends,
After a long and lovely year of music, the parish choir begins its annual break for the summer, a much deserved and needed reprieve. The lay clerks will be off in June following Trinity Sunday returning in July as a quartet to lead us on Sunday mornings. Looking towards the fall and another term of music making, I invite you to consider how you might be able to contribute to the music ministry at Saint Andrew’s.
At Saint Andrew’s, sacred music is not simply a part of our tradition – it is a living expression of our faith, a means of proclaiming the Gospel, and a source of beauty and inspiration for all who worship with us. This ministry is both spiritually rich and financially significant. I write to invite your support of the music ministry fund, which makes possible the continued excellence and growth of our parish’s musical life.
Your generous contributions directly support:
Honoraria for our professional lay clerks, who provide stability and skilled leadership in our parish choir. Each lay clerk receives roughly $500 per month from September through May, totaling around $4,500 per clerk annually.
Instrumentalists, including brass for the Easter Vigil and string players for concerts, who professional fees average $2,000 per engagement.
Essential choir materials, including music purchases, maintaining vestments, and rehearsal resources that ensure our choir is prepared.
UK choir residencies, which provide life-changing experiences for our choir and allow us to share our ministry abroad. These trips represent a major investment in fundraising – around $30,000 per residency – but offer invaluable musical, spiritual, and educational benefits.
As you can see, the costs of sustaining a vibrant, professional-caliber music program are considerable. Yet the fruits of this ministry – beauty in worship, growth in faith, and outreach through sacred music – are immeasurable. To make a contribution please click the button below, or visit standrewsbham.org/give and select “Music Activities” from the drop-down menu. Checks may also be made payable to Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church, with “Music Activities” in the memo line.
Thank you for your continued support of this sacred work. It is through your generosity that we are able to offer music that glorifies God and enriches the life of our parish.
Yours faithfully in Christ,
Cody Lawyer
Organist & Choirmaster
Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church