Music at St. Paul’s

St. Paul’s Brookline is a church community that sees music as central to its spiritual life.

We are blessed at St. Paul’s to have a sanctuary with an acoustic that inspires and rewards singing and music-making of all sorts. As you enter the sanctuary for the first time, it is hard to miss the Marshall & Ogletree organ standing up high behind the altar, speaking of the centrality of music in our church life. And when you first “hear” the space – when someone starts to sing or when an instrument begins to play – it is clear that this is a sanctuary that celebrates and nurtures the role of music in drawing us closer to the spiritual currents running so deeply in our lives. In addition to our weekly worship services, we host an average of 40 concerts and recitals each year.

The goal of the music program at St. Paul’s is to produce outstanding music, stimulating both congregational participation and spiritual energy. With this in mind, we provide a range of musical opportunities and a variety of special choral services. For more information about music at St. Paul’s beyond what is offered below and elsewhere on this website, please contact Andrew Clarkson, Director of Music and Organist, at aclarkson@stpaulsbrookline.org.

The St. Paul’s Choir

The St. Paul’s Choir is composed of professional and volunteer singers. Anyone interested in singing in the choir should speak with Andy Clarkson to arrange an audition. The choir sings from September to June at the 10 a.m. Sunday services, as well as at special choral services throughout the church year. Such special services include:

  • Candlelight Carols (Sunday before Christmas)

  • Christmas Eve Midnight Mass

  • Choral Lenten Invitation Service (The evening of the first Sunday in Lent)

  • Good Friday

Rehearsals for the choir are on, on average, two Wednesday evenings per month and on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m.

The choir’s repertoire includes a wide variety of music aimed to both challenge us musically and move us spiritually. Selections range from early music to contemporary, from classics to premiers.

We also offer opportunities throughout the year for members of the congregation and wider community to participate in making music together. See below for more info:

Joyful Voice

Joyful Voice is an all-volunteer, multi-generational chorus that sings periodically through the church year. Everyone is welcome, regardless of your musical training or ability to read music. We celebrate all voices, all ages, all backgrounds. To sing in Joyful Voice, all you need is a love of music and a willingness to make it to church for rehearsal on Sunday morning at 9 a.m.

Children’s Choir

In 2026, we started a children’s choir! See this page for more info or reach out to aclarkson@stpaulsbrookline.org for more info.

Annual Messiah Sing

Each year, St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Brookline, MA hosts a community sing of Handel's Messiah (Part 1 and the Hallelujah Chorus) at 5 p.m. on the first Sunday of December. The congregation is organized into voice parts (SATB), provided music, and then, with only a little warm-up rehearsal, we sing through the Messiah as a wonderful avenue into the mysteries of Advent and Christmas.  Soloists are drawn from the St. Paul's Choir, and accompaniment is provided by organ and strings.

Candlelight Carols Service

The Candlelight Carols Service at St. Paul's Brookline serves as a vessel, a means to help us return to this most remarkable story of God’s coming among us as a child in Bethlehem. At this time of darkness in Advent, our hope is that you will come join us to listen, sing, and ponder anew the possibilities of a promise of light penetrating into even the deepest and most relentless darkness. Come and open yourself, bring your children, and approach the wonder of Christmas, in all of its hope and love.

Lenten Choral Invitation Service

The "Lenten Invitation" service seeks to follow the lead of Ash Wednesday, inviting us into a deeper connection with the offer and promise of Lent.  Its aim is to help us "reclaim" the ashes, and focus our attention and intention on the season that lies before us with its inherent opportunity for spiritual reflection and renewal.  The service includes contemporary and traditional readings, prayers, hymns, anthems, and The Mozart Requiem (the Robert Levin version), sung by the St. Paul's Choir. We hope that you choose to make this service a part of your Lenten journey.

Our Organ Has a Story

Our organ, which once resided at Trinity Church Wall Street, has its own remarkable story which can be found here.

Interested in supporting the music program?

Make a gift or a pledge here.