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 Eric Vinciguerra, Choirmaster
Our Choral Scholars
The Choral Scholar ministry at St. John's is our primary outreach to the Central Michigan University community. This year, five students from the School of Music are singing in our choir with members of the parish - we love them, we embrace them, and they, too, become part of our community.
Annika Lipar is a current sophomore at Central Michigan University from Big Rapids, MI. She is majoring in Choral Music Education. Annika is involved in the student ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) at CMU, where she serves on the E-Board as the MSVMA Representative. She also is a member of advanced choral ensemble Chamber Singers. Annika is so excited to have the opportunity to improve her musical skills and learn new things as a choral scholar at St. John's!
Noah Walther is a junior at CMU who is from Essexville, MI. He is pursuing his BFA in Musical Theatre Performance. This is Noah's 2nd year singing with the St. John's choir as a choral scholar. Noah is a member of the Chamber singers and is very active within the CMU theatre program.
Pauline Knilans is a Transfer Junior at Central Michigan University studying Choral Music Education. She graduated in 2020 from Edwardsburg High School and attended Southwestern Michigan College where she studied vocal music and got an Associate Degree in Arts (Music) in 2022. She was a part of choir since middle school and was in an advanced all-girls choir from her Sophomore to Senior year of high school. She was a part of select voices choir, concert choir, and women’s choir at Southwestern Michigan College for two years. Now she is a part of concert choir, treble choir, and a member of ACDA at Central Michigan University.
Ryan Linton is a first year student pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education at CMU. He is from Grand Rapids and is currently a member of the ACDA e-board as well as Chamber Singers. He has been singing for 10 years now and is looking forward to continuing that here at St. John’s
Samantha Heath is a sophomore at CMU studying Choral Music Education! She is a Secretary for the student chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. Sam is from the Grand Rapids area, and likes to crochet in her free time.
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.
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.
Dennis Flynn, Organist Eric Vinciguerra, Choirmaster
Our Choral Scholars
The Choral Scholar ministry at St. John's is our primary outreach to the Central Michigan University community. This year, five students from the School of Music are singing in our choir with members of the parish - we love them, we embrace them, and they, too, become part of our community.
Annika Lipar is a current sophomore at Central Michigan University from Big Rapids, MI. She is majoring in Choral Music Education. Annika is involved in the student ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) at CMU, where she serves on the E-Board as the MSVMA Representative. She also is a member of advanced choral ensemble Chamber Singers. Annika is so excited to have the opportunity to improve her musical skills and learn new things as a choral scholar at St. John's!
Noah Walther is a junior at CMU who is from Essexville, MI. He is pursuing his BFA in Musical Theatre Performance. This is Noah's 2nd year singing with the St. John's choir as a choral scholar. Noah is a member of the Chamber singers and is very active within the CMU theatre program.
Pauline Knilans is a Transfer Junior at Central Michigan University studying Choral Music Education. She graduated in 2020 from Edwardsburg High School and attended Southwestern Michigan College where she studied vocal music and got an Associate Degree in Arts (Music) in 2022. She was a part of choir since middle school and was in an advanced all-girls choir from her Sophomore to Senior year of high school. She was a part of select voices choir, concert choir, and women’s choir at Southwestern Michigan College for two years. Now she is a part of concert choir, treble choir, and a member of ACDA at Central Michigan University.
Ryan Linton is a first year student pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education at CMU. He is from Grand Rapids and is currently a member of the ACDA e-board as well as Chamber Singers. He has been singing for 10 years now and is looking forward to continuing that here at St. John’s
Samantha Heath is a sophomore at CMU studying Choral Music Education! She is a Secretary for the student chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. Sam is from the Grand Rapids area, and likes to crochet in her free time.
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.
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.
On March 25, 2023 the Choral Scholars and some of their classmates gave a vocal recital in the Parish Hall. It was a wonderful and will be repeated. Below are some photos.