On Sunday, June 7th, students and families gathered to recognize the accomplishments of St. James School’s eight inaugural choir members.
Music Teacher Dr. Darryl Roland launched the program in fall 2013 in partnership with Saint Mark’s Church Locust Street in Center City Philadelphia. Modeled after the esteemed Royal School of Church Music training model, choir members progress through eight levels of achievement and practice every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday for at least an hour and a half. Due to the rigorous nature of the program, students are given a monthly stipend in recognition for their hard work.
At the end of each school year, upon achieving the necessary requirements, students are promoted a level and given a gift to mark the occasion. In 2014, all students of the choir were recognized as charter members and received hymnals engraved with their names. Several members were also promoted from Preparatory Singer to Novice Singer, and were given a surplice, a special vestment they will wear over their robes for future performances as a symbol of their level of achievement.
