Music
The mission of the St. Matthew’s Parish Choir is to make Christ known through the music of the Anglican tradition. The choir is responsible for singing the minor propers (Introit, Gradual, Alleluia or Tract, Offertory and Communion), two anthems and for leading the congregational singing for both the 9:00 and 10:30 Sunday morning services.
The choir also sings for the following special holy days: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil.
Rehearsals are Thursdays from 7:00 to 9:15 (except in July and August) and 8:00 AM before the Sunday services.
During David Simmons’ tenure as Organist-Choirmaster beginning in August 2003 at St. Matthew’s Church, the Parish Choir has already gained an enviable reputation in Orange County for its sensitive interpretation of English sacred music particularly within the context of cathedral style Choral Evensongs and the annual Festival of Lessons and Carols.
The fifteen-voice ensemble specializes in straight-tone (non vibrato) singing inspired by the great cathedral and college chapel choirs in England.
A desire to learn, a musical ear, the ability to sing with a straight tone, availability for rehearsals and services, and a willingness to be a team player are the requirements to sing in the choir. We always need and welcome new singers.
Anyone who is interested should contact the Organist-Choirmaster, David Simmons, who may be reached after any service, by e-mail or by calling (949) 612-8620.
Meet our Organist/Choirmaster
J. David Simmons, Organist-Choirmaster at St. Matthew’s Anglican Catholic Church, Newport Beach, California since 2003, is a graduate of the University of Southern California (M.M.) and the University of Kansas (B.M.).
On full scholarship at USC, he was honored with the Grancell and Liberace Foundation awards. He was also awarded the Stewart Grant for graduate music study by the Musical Research Society. At the University of Kansas the faculty granted him the Preyer Award for the outstanding graduating music major.
He became a church organist at the age of 12 and has continuously served churches of various denominations as organist or organist-choirmaster since then. He has collaborated with Sir David Willcocks as organist at Choral Evensong, and with conductor Robert Shaw as piano accompanist.
Also a composer, he has written over 200 liturgical choral pieces especially for the St. Matthew’s Parish Choir. He has performed organ recitals, including several pipe organ dedication concerts, in California and the Midwest, and has performed piano recitals and concerts with orchestra all over the world, including the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Bratislava Chamber Orchestra in Austria.
Click here to view our anthem list.