Choirs

Choir of Saint James'

Click here to meet members of the Choir.

The Choir of Saint James' is made up of amateur and professional adult musicians from the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Under the direction of Organist and Choirmaster James Buonemani, it is the first American choir to have sung in performance with the Choir of Westminster Abbey. The Choir of Saint James' was also honored to serve twice as Westminster Abbey's choir-in-residence during the month of August, 1999 and again during August of 2006. Inviting the Choir to return in the future, the Abbey Precentor, Deiniol Morgan, wrote "the quality of singing was exceptionally high and our worship was much enriched by your contribution."

As the core musical organization of Saint James' Church, the choir has played host to many of the world's finest choirs during their international tours, including The Sixteen, the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, the American Boychoir, the Gloriae Dei Cantores, and the Choir of Westminster Abbey. The Choir of Saint James' performed the music for the official Los Angeles Memorial to Princess Diana in 1997. In addition to weekly services and monthly evensongs, the Choir of Saint James' presents concerts featuring many of the great choral masterpieces with full orchestra.

Recent seasons have included the Requiems of Maurice Duruflé, Gabriel Fauré, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Giuseppe Verdi, the Lord Nelson Mass by Haydn, the Funeral Ikos and Song for Athene by John Tavener, and the Lux Aeterna of Los Angeles composer Morten Lauridsen. In July, 2004 the choir was featured at the National Convention of the American Guild of Organists.

New members are welcome to audition for the choir. Rehearsals take place on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings. Requirements include an ability to read music (singing at sight an unfamiliar hymn from the 1982 Hymnal), excellent tuning and a voice of clear, straight-tone timbre that blends well with the other voices. Members joining the choir for the current 2009 - 2010 season are eligible to participate in the choir's Pilgrimage to Canterbury tour from July 23 - August 4, 2010. Email JBuonemani@SaintJamesLA.org for more information.

Saint James' Children's Choir

Saint James' Children's Choir is a joint-project of Saint James' Church and School, open to children in grades three through six. The Children's Choir performs approximately four times each season during the 10:30 AM Sunday Eucharist liturgy. With adequate personnel, the choir may also sing in the Family Eucharist on Christmas Eve. Membership in the choir requires a commitment to make one's best effort to attend all rehearsals and scheduled services. The choir rehearses once each week on Tuesday or Thursday after school from 3:40 until 4:30 PM. Each student chooses either day as his or her regular day for the season. For more information contact the Associate Musician for Youth, Jim Casey at JCasey@sjsla.org.