Our tradition of beautiful choral and organ
music continues at St. Stephen's under our new director and organist,
Joel Morehouse. In keeping with the Anglican Tradition, good and fitting
music is selected according to the liturgical season. Our cultural
resources run deep, given the diversity of our neighborhood and more
than one hundred years of choral singing! Accordingly, on a given Sunday
at St. Stephen's, parishioners may hear Gregorian Chant together with
American Gospel Spirituals, Renaissance polyphony together with
traditional hymnody, and French-style organ improvisation together with
the splendor of the early English masters. The adult choir rehearses
from 8 - 9:30pm on Thursdays. Anyone interested to join should contact
Joel Morehouse at 328-0856 for more info.
Joel Morehouse grew up in the 19th Ward of Rochester, where he studied
piano as a child at the Eastman School of Music. He later completed a
Bachelors' Degree in Music and History at Roberts Wesleyan College in
2005, specializing in piano, organ, and choral music as well as
mediaeval and ecclesiastical history. In his final year at Roberts
Wesleyan, he was appointed Music Director and Organist at St. Jude the
Apostle Church in Rochester. In 2006 he was appointed choirmaster and
organist of the Tridentine Community at Mission San Buenaventura in
Ventura, California. During his time in California he also founded the
Choristers of San Buenaventura, a choir of twenty-eight children, and
taught in the Golden Valley Charter School. Since returning to Rochester
in late 2007, Joel has enjoyed studying privately at the Eastman School,
singing in various choirs in town, and being reunited with his family.
He is currently working on a Master's degree in Education at Roberts
Wesleyan College.
The adult choir rehearses
from 8 - 9:30pm on Thursdays. Anyone interested in joining should
contact Joel Morehouse at 328-0856 for more info.