Music at St. Matthew's
Director of Music and Organist
Dr. Robert Hall
Bob has spent most of his life as a combined academic and church musician, having taught music in 5 universities before spending 26 years teaching at Laurentian University in Sudbury. He retired from Laurentian in 2021 and moved to Ottawa, spending a year as Director of Music at City View United Church. His training includes a Doctorate in Choral Music and a Fellowship in Organ, and he also holds degrees in Piano Performance and Voice Performance.
Bob is well-versed in church musical traditions having held positions in Anglican, United Church of Canada and United Methodist churches. His positions at Anglican churches include 2 years as Director of Music at Christ’s Church Cathedral in Hamilton, Ontario.
He is excited about continuing St. Matthew’s rich musical tradition and aiding in the resumption of a full musical life for St. Matthew’s as we emerge from the pandemic.
St. Matthew’s Choir
Adult Choir
St. Matthew’s Choir is an auditioned, volunteer voice ensemble of men and women. The choir’s liturgical repertoire includes plainsong and Anglican chant psalmody, mass and evening canticle settings, as well as a rich collection of anthems and motets ranging from Renaissance polyphony to modern-day compositions.
Kids’ Choir
The Kids’ Choir meets Mondays for an hour from 4:30 to 5:30pm and sings each month along with the St. Matthew’s Choir at the Family service on the last Sunday of each month. The emphasis is on learning singing skills in a fun environment.
Rehearsals
Boys and girls aged 8 years and up rehearse on Mondays from 4:30 to 5:30pm. Men and women rehearse on Thursdays from 7 to 9pm The choirs also rehearse for one hour prior to the church services at which they sing.
The Choir Year
From September to June, St. Matthew’s Choir sings at the weekly 10:30am Sunday Eucharist service as well as at regularly scheduled Evensong services. The choir also participates in a number of additional special services such as those during Advent and Holy Week.
Concerts
Traditionally the choir presents two concerts each year, one in the autumn and another in the spring. Major choral works presented in recent years have included Handel’s Messiah, Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem and two different settings of the Gloria by Poulenc and Rutter.
Are you interested in joining the choir?
If you have a child who loves to sing, or you are an adult who would like to join the choir, please contact the Church office at admin@stmatthewsottawa.ca or 613-234-4024.