Music is an integral and essential part of worship at St. John’s. Our music program is known for its excellent quality and distinctive style. Our volunteer choir and Choral Scholars from CMU lead the congregation in a wide range of music, from traditional Anglican and Episcopal hymns to medieval chant and Renaissance motets to American folk music and spirituals.
Our Musicians
Dennis Flynn, Organist
Chase Simpson, Choirmaster
Our Choral Scholars
The Choral Scholar ministry at St. John's is our primary outreach to the Central Michigan University community. This year, four students from the School of Music are singing in our choir with our "volunteers" - we love them, we embrace them, and they, too, become part of our community.
David Klak – a recent graduate of Mt Pleasant High School, now double-majoring in Music Theatre and Vocal Performance. David was a member of the High School Choirs all four years of high school – where he met our Choirmaster, Chase Simpson, in his senior year. “Chase has given me so many special opportunities – thanks to him, I’m now a Choral Scholar here at St. John’s!”
Victoria Offutt – a Mezzo-Soprano from Chicago – currently studies vocal performance under Professor Tracy Watson. Victoria will present her junior recital in the Spring.
Sierra Datillo
Jack O'Brien,
Gabriel Kney, Organ Builder, grew up in the city of Speyer-am-Rhein in Germany where he apprenticed with master organ builder Paul Seattle. In 1951 he immigrated to Canada. In 1955, in London, Ontario, he started his own business of building organs, retiring in 1996.
At the time of the Tracker Organ Revival in America, in the late 1950s, he was the first Canadian organ builder to again build mechanical (tracker) action organs. St. John's Opus 65 is an outstanding example of the visual and tonal character of his instruments.
Our Organ: St. John's organ (pictured above), Op. 65, was built by the internationally-known Canadian organ builder, Gabriel Kney in 1973. It is one of only two tracker instruments in Mt. Pleasant, the other being a studio organ at Central Michigan University, also built by Gabriel Kney. The organ has 2 manuals and 16 stops. (For specifications consult Gabriel Kney's website here.)
Dennis Flynn, Organist
Chase Simpson, Choirmaster
Our Choral Scholars
The Choral Scholar ministry at St. John's is our primary outreach to the Central Michigan University community. This year, four students from the School of Music are singing in our choir with our "volunteers" - we love them, we embrace them, and they, too, become part of our community.
David Klak – a recent graduate of Mt Pleasant High School, now double-majoring in Music Theatre and Vocal Performance. David was a member of the High School Choirs all four years of high school – where he met our Choirmaster, Chase Simpson, in his senior year. “Chase has given me so many special opportunities – thanks to him, I’m now a Choral Scholar here at St. John’s!”
Victoria Offutt – a Mezzo-Soprano from Chicago – currently studies vocal performance under Professor Tracy Watson. Victoria will present her junior recital in the Spring.
Sierra Datillo
Jack O'Brien,
Gabriel Kney, Organ Builder, grew up in the city of Speyer-am-Rhein in Germany where he apprenticed with master organ builder Paul Seattle. In 1951 he immigrated to Canada. In 1955, in London, Ontario, he started his own business of building organs, retiring in 1996.
At the time of the Tracker Organ Revival in America, in the late 1950s, he was the first Canadian organ builder to again build mechanical (tracker) action organs. St. John's Opus 65 is an outstanding example of the visual and tonal character of his instruments.
Our Organ: St. John's organ (pictured above), Op. 65, was built by the internationally-known Canadian organ builder, Gabriel Kney in 1973. It is one of only two tracker instruments in Mt. Pleasant, the other being a studio organ at Central Michigan University, also built by Gabriel Kney. The organ has 2 manuals and 16 stops. (For specifications consult Gabriel Kney's website here.)