This is our primary parish choir that sings for the principal 10:30 Eucharist on Sundays.The Saint Thomas Choir rehearses (in the Choir Room) on Wednesday evenings from 6:45 PM to 8:30 PM with a warm-up on Sunday mornings (in the Music Gallery) beginning at 9:30 AM. This is a non-auditioned choir. All you need is a pleasing voice, a willingness to learn, and the ability to read music.
Click here to email Rick McKnight, St. Thomas Choir Director, or contact by phone at 706.575.8900.
St. Thomas Choir in front of the high altar after singing for Georgia Day 2005 at the Washington National Cathedral.
St. Thomas Choir in the "Quire", Wells Cathedral, England.
St. Thomas Choir in England
St. Thomas Choir was the choir-in-residence at Wells and Gloucester Cathedrals, England, in the summer of 2009. It was a tremendous experience. Click the link below to hear "Vox Christi" by Prof. Philip Wilby of the University of Leeds. This brand-new composition is dedicated by Prof. Wilby to Rick McKnight and the Choir of St. Thomas. "Vox Christi" is sung here by the Choir of Wells Cathedral (Matthew Owen, conductor), and it is published by the Royal School of Church Music.
Rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM in the nave and rings about once a month and on special anthems with the vocal choirs. The ability to read music, either bass or treble clef, is a requirement.
The Organ
Our organ is an Opus 99 of Cornel Zimmer, Organbuilders, installed in the rear gallery of the nave. The original was a 2-manual 27 rank Reuter installed in 1975. In 2007, Zimmer built a 3-manual console, re-voiced and regulated the existing pipework and added 27 digital voices. Preparation is made for a small chancel organ when funds permit. Click for specification list.
St. Thomas Choir - Evensong October 2007 at Legacy Hall to Celebrate the Diocese's Centennial. Rick McKnight conducting.
A Night of Jazz at St. Thomas
In September 2010, St. Thomas "wowed" the community with an evening of Jazz Vespers followed by a Jazz Jam in All Saints Hall. A benefit for CVEM, more than 300 people attended and $2500 was raised! The Columbus Jazz Society partnered in this event which focused attention on "A Reflection on Creation." The featured guest musician was violinist David Ragsdale who grew up at St. Thomas and is best known for his time with rock group Kansas. The evening was also a tribute to his mother, Carol Ragsdale, a St. Thomas member and early founder of the Jazz Society.
Jazz Vespers photo taken by parishioner Marquette McKnight.
VIVA VIVALDI!
The Choirs of St. Thomas & St. Paul UMC combined for a glorious choral and instrumental Vivaldi Vespers on May 16, 2010, featuring the Gloria and Beatus vir.
Children's Choir
St. Thomas Children's Choir
St. Thomas Children's Choir is open to all children and rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm. They sing monthly at the 10:30 service and always at the Christmas Eve Family Service and on Palm Sunday. Click here to contact Erin Redden, the Children's Choir Director.
St. Thomas Episcopal Church - 2100 Hilton Avenue - Columbus, Georgia 31906
