Music Ministry

“He who sings, prays twice.” – St. Augustine of Hippo (354CE-430CE)

Music is central to the worship and common life of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. Rooted in the rich Anglican musical tradition, the music ministry understands music not as ornament, but as an integral part of the Church’s liturgical prayer and proclamation.

Through careful preparation, thoughtful rehearsal, and with great joy, the musicians of St. Matthew’s serve the congregation by offering music of historical depth and artistic integrity. The ministry embraces a wide range of musical expressions spanning Renaissance to contemporary repertoire, classical to modern idioms, and instrumental, vocal, and choral traditions. At St. Matthew’s we celebrate the breadth of the worldwide Church’s musical inheritance.

Within our walls, music and worship are inseparable. Whether through congregational hymns, choral anthems, or instrumental offerings, our music ministry seeks to enhance the beauty of the liturgy and to invite a deeper encounter with the transcendent mystery at the heart of our faith.

The St. Matthew’s Parish Choir

The Parish Choir at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church offers a welcoming opportunity for singers of varied ages and musical backgrounds to share their gifts in worship within a joyful, supportive, and dedicated community. Our choir comprises a diverse ensemble of professional and amateur musicians, united by a shared commitment to musical growth, beauty, and excellence in liturgical service.

The Parish Choir sings a wide range of sacred choral repertoire at weekly 10:30am Eucharists and provides expanded musical leadership during the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. Rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary. New members are warmly welcomed at any time throughout the year.

For more information contact our Director of Music, Dr. Jeff Vanderlee, at jeff@stmattsaustin.org.

About Our Organ: The Johannus Monarke IV

We invite you to join us for any 10:30 a.m. Eucharist and experience the organ at St. Matthew’s, installed in November of 2015. Our Johannus Monarke IV organ features a sophisticated audio system of 42 main speakers and six subwoofers, organized into four divisionally placed chambers with an additional antiphonal Echo division. The Choir, Swell, and Solo divisions are enclosed under expression, allowing for a wide range of tonal color and dynamic nuance.

The organ was custom designed by Austin-area organist Jean Farris Fuller in collaboration with Rick Bocock, President of Classical Organs of Texas, and built by Johannus Orgelbouw b.v.. Its stops were selected from high-quality samples of renowned pipe organs in Continental Europe and England, reflecting the breadth of the Anglican organ tradition. The oak console is finished with reverse-colored, “tracker-touch” keyboards crafted from ebony and oak, combining visual elegance with exceptional playability.