A Vibrant Music Community

Music is a vital element of worship at St. John’s – we are a congregation that loves to sing! We welcome all to join us in expressing our praise through song and other music.
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Following the peal of church bells, our 10am worship services begin and end with music played on the organ or piano. We sing hymns together as well as different liturgical settings from both the Book of Alternative Services and the Book of Common Prayer. Hymn singing is led by the St. John’s Choir, who additionally share anthems and other special music. From time to time, we also delight in the musical gifts of individual singers and instrumental soloists.

The Choir has "re-Zoomed" for rehearsals, even though we can't meet in person!

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The St. John's Choir

The St. John’s Choir is a spirited multi-generational ensemble of musical enthusiasts. We love singing and learning music together; we also love laughing together, and most important, the experience of being part of a church choir family. We take pride in providing musical leadership for church worship services and enjoy singing a diverse range of SATB choral repertoire, learning anthems from the Renaissance up to present day.

The choir rehearses on Thursdays from 4:30-6:00pm and also immediately prior to the 10am worship service on Sundays.
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From students to retirees wanting to further their love of music, we always welcome new members.  If you are interested in being part of the St. John’s Choir, please contact our music director, Michelle.

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Choral Scholars

With Acadia University just down the street, St. John’s is fortunate to have student musicians participate in our musical worship, both as members of our choir and as guest musicians for individual services. To support student participation, St. John’s established a bursary fund called the Choral Scholars Program. This fund enables the hiring of guest musicians, and as well, two to three Choral Scholars to help out with our choir each year.
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​The Choral Scholars serve as section leaders and soloists in addition to assisting our music director.

Donations to our Choral Scholars Program are always greatly appreciated. To help support our students, please find out how to donate here, and make sure to indicate clearly that you are contributing to our Choral Scholars Program. Thank you!

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2020/21 Choral Scholars

Luke henderson

(Acadia '20 BMus; '22 BEd) Luke Henderson is a music graduate and current education student at Acadia University in Wolfville, where he is training to become a public-school music teacher. He grew up in New Glasgow, NS, where he was an active musician with local churches as a trumpet player, organist, and chorister. He is excited to be able to share his music with the choir at St. John’s in Wolfville this year.

Margaret finlay

(Acadia '20 BAH; UYork '21 MA) Margaret Finlay was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, where she joined her first choir at the age of six. She moved to Wolfville in 2016 to take her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature at Acadia University. Within her first week in Wolfville, she joined the St. John’s Choir. Having found not just a kind community, but a true family in the choir here, Margaret is thrilled to continue to sing with them today. She currently lives in York, England, where she is taking a Masters in medieval literatures and languages, and zooms into choir rehearsal on Thursday nights.

Past Choral Scholars

​2019/20: Margaret Finlay (Acadia '20, BA), Brandon Zuniga (Acadia '20, CMT), and Noah Hartlen
2018/19: Margaret Finlay and Lemuel Johnson (Acadia '19, BMus)
2017/18: Ellen Torrie (Acadia '18, BMT) and Lemuel Johnson
2016/17: Ellen Torrie and Ryan Myers (Acadia '17, BMus)
2015/16: Ellen Torrie and Ryan Myers

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Our Recordings

​O Light of Light
Text trans. by Laurence Housman, Music by Richard Shephard
​Recorded in March 2021. St. John's Choir with members of The Marion Singers of Toronto, Ontario.

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​Laudate Nomen Domini
Text Ps.112 (para), Music by Christopher Tye
​Recorded in February 2021. St. John's Choir with members of The Marion Singers of Toronto, Ontario.

​In the Stillness
Text is a compilation by Schweizer, Music by Arlen Clarke
​Recorded for Advent 2020. Soloist: Margaret Finlay (Acadia '20).

​How Can I Keep From Singing?
Text by Robert Lowry, Music by Cliff Brock
Recorded to celebrate Sandra Fyfe's consecration as Diocesan Bishop in November of 2020. Soloist: Ellen Torrie (Acadia '18).

Holy, Holy, Holy
Words by Reginald Heber, Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Recorded for Trinity Sunday, in June of 2020. St. John's Choir with The Marion Singers of Toronto, Ontario.

Beati Quorum Via
Words from Psalm 119, Music by Charles Villiers Stanford
Recorded in June 2020. St. John's Choir with The Marion Singers of Toronto, Ontario.

I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
By Georg Frederic Handel
Recorded for Easter Sunday 2020. Soprano Ellen Torrie with Michelle Boyd.

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Our Instruments

​St. John’s houses a two-manual Casavant Frères organ (Opus 3182, 1975). It was installed in 1976 through a gift by Miss Margaret Troyte-Bullock, a long-time parishioner. It boasts 10 ranks, 548 pipes, 3 divisions, 2 manuals, 7 stops, and 7 registers. We also have a Yamaha NU1 Digital Hybrid Piano that serves our space well. It was purchased in 2018 through the generous support of members of the congregation.