Music
The Music Ministry
The Music Ministry at St. John | San Juan is diverse and innovative, embracing a broad range of styles and expressions. It underscores the Biblical message of the liturgy and supports the emotional content of the readings.
Our repertoire encompasses a wide variety of music, from the Renaissance through contemporary, from European to South African, from acapella choir to accompaniment with a variety of instruments.
St. John | San Juan is home to a 3,800-pipe Schlicker organ originally built in 1967 and previously used for worship and notable concerts at Plymouth Congregational Church, Seattle.
For information about the music program, any of the choirs or the concert series, contact the church office, 360-352-8527.
Choirs and Ensembles
Parish Choir
The Parish Choir is open to singers from high school through adult. The choir presents a variety of liturgical music for the worship services and provides musical leadership and support to the congregation of St. John | San Juan. Choir practice is on Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall from September through early June.
Jubilate Choir
The Jubilate Choir is an excellent opportunity for those who are not available for Wednesday evening Chancel Choir rehearsals or to sing every Sunday but would still like to participate in the music program at St. John | San Juan. Jubilate is a small group that has a lot of fun while working on often challenging pieces. Jubilate sings about one Sunday a month. Rehearsals are Thursday afternoons at 2:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall.
Compline Choir
Membership in the Compline Choir is open to men and women by audition or permission of the Choirmaster. The Compline Choir practices every Sunday at 6 p.m.
Compline, the last of the daily monastic offices, is sung every Sunday night at St. John | San Juan at 8 p.m. The Compline Choir uses a historic setting of the Order of Compline that incorporates the mystical style of Gregorian Chant. Membership is open to men and women by audition or permission of the Choirmaster.
In Advent of 2004, our Compline Choir released its first CD, a 23-selection disk entitled “Evensongs.” Selections include a setting of The Lord’s Prayer by Susan E. Bloomfield, (our director of music and liturgy at the time of the recording), and “Keep Your Hand on That Plow,” composed by William E. Unbehaun, a member of the Compline Choir. Also represented are well-known Northwest music figures Peter R. Hallock, Roger Sherman and the late James D. Holloway. A second CD entitled “Blessed Nativity” with 21 Christmas Carols also is available. The CDs are $15.00 each and may be purchased through the church office.
Olympia Sacred Jazz Ensemble
The Olympia Sacred Jazz Ensemble is a very special blessing for us here at St. John | San Juan. This unique part of our worship is under the leadership of parishioners. It plays whenever a fifth Sunday appears in a month.
St. John | San Juan Concert Series
2024-25 Season
Our concert series have become a local tradition as we have welcomed our neighbors in year after year for outstanding musical events. The concerts are part of our mission of building community as we love God and love our neighbors.
All concerts are open to the public. Admission is by donation. All concerts are at St. John | San Juan Episcopal Church, 19th Avenue and Capitol Way, Olympia.
Saturday October 19, 2024, 7 pm, the season kicks off with a Big Band concert celebrating legendary jazz artists. The RKO Jazz Orchestra, directed by saxophone superstar Tracy Knoop, will celebrate local jazz legends Bill Ramsay and Milt Kleeb in concert. Tracy Knoop is one of the best-known jazz artists and teachers in the region, performing with such greats as the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Mel Torme, and others. Ramsay and Kleeb worked together for many years, and were known for their straight-ahead, powerful sax playing.
Wednesday October 31, 2024, 6 p.m. Halloween organ music featuring Steve O’Connor, followed at 6:30 p.m. by Nosferatu, the 1922 silent movie with the soundtrack orchestral score by Hans Erdmann
Saturday November 16, 2024, 3 p.m. Seattle Pro-Musica Choral Concert
Sunday March 23, 2025, 3 p.m. Lute Legends Collective. Performing this season with the Seattle Early Music Festival, this ensemble performs music of ancient, plucked string instruments.
May 2025 (date, time and artist TBA), Organ recital
