Choir School NEWS
A NEWSLETTER FOR ALUMNI & FRIENDS OF SAINT THOMAS CHOIR SCHOOL
Congratulations to the Class of 2024: (Front row, l to r) Nathan, Elias, Henry, and Christian (Back row, l to r) William H. and William L.
Excerpts from Prize Day Remarks
MR. CHRISTOPHER A. SEELEY, Head of School
While 105 years is noteworthy, this particular anniversary of the end of the year is not particularly notable. Somehow the years between 100 and 125 in the life of an institution don’t seem to garner much attention or to warrant certain pomp and circumstance. But we know that each year at Choir School is remarkable and worthy of every bit of awe and wonder it inspires. Just as the spiritual reminds us, “we’ve come this far by faith,” and in faith and determination we will continue this audacious purpose of transforming lives in our close knit residential community through our collective journey to deeper knowledge and with the joyful noise of centuries of sacred music.
One never knows exactly what a school year will bring, but as we partnered in celebrating the bicentennial of Saint Thomas Church, we knew that the year would be peppered with the kinds of experiences that would make for great memories. Our eighth graders continued to lead in choir and across all areas of school, and it’s remarkable that each of the eighth graders continued to sing straight through to the end of the year. The choir is larger and stronger than it has been in quite some time, and though the current senior boys leave big shoes to fill, we show no sign of slowing down next year.
The spring semester built upon the strength of the fall. Though we experienced some bumps in the road, we have made our way to a successful and joyful close of the year. From the ski trip to Social Justice Day, from inspiring concerts to inspired Shaekspeare performances, highlighted by an historic visit by the Chapel Royal and the promising visits and auditions of seven potential choristers just in the last two weeks, the year has been both full and fulfilling.
Under the direction of voice faculty Mr. Spoletini, the graduates perform “This Little Babe” from Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols”
Commencement speaker Ms.
Jami Floyd
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER MS. JAMI FLOYD,
Member of NYC Community Board 7
I wondered why God called me here today because I did not attend this exceptional school, or any choir school, quite frankly, and I decidedly cannot sing. I’m that person you don’t want to sit next to in church because I am most certainly off key. But then I realized that is why God called me here today, to talk to you about just that: my voice. Or, more to the point of this day, yours. Of course you all have beautiful voices—that is a given, or we would not be sitting here with your Director of Music beaming so proudly behind me. But I venture to say that there is something of even greater value that you will take from your time here at Saint Thomas Choir School, something that you will carry with you through your lives, and I want to reflect on that for just a few moments. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King said, “Find a voice in a whisper.”
What he means to say there is that you, too, have power in your voice. There may be a Dr. King in this room. It’s very likely, with a room full of brilliant young men like this. But Dr. King is saying precisely the opposite: you don’t need to be a preacher with a powerful voice, you can be a singer, a doctor, a scientist, a laborer. People of all sorts have different ways of using their voices. So when Dr. King says “your voice in a whisper,” he’s saying to find your own voice. Use your unique gifts, talents, passions. Have your own way of being in the world.
This school has given each of you not just the extraordinary training of your voices, not just the experience of training as choristers at the professional level, not only the unparalleled opportunity of singing here, one of the world’s great churches, with one of the world’s great choirs. More than that—and I don’t doubt the faculty will agree—more than that you leave here with poise, with presence, and with a deep commitment to service. And you leave with the special recognition that regardless of your professional paths, this voice that you have cultivated and trained can be loud and proud not just when you are singing, but as you walk through the world in adolescence, into young adulthood, and beyond.
Each of you will truly use your voice in ways we cannot foresee, but that will create wonder and joy for those in this room, in this house of worship, and for those you have yet to meet in your journey of life. So as you leave, may you carry with you all the creativity you’ve honed, the friendships you’ve forged, the collaborations you’ve cherished, and the bold visions you imagine, knowing that the best is yet to come. I look forward— we look forward—to hearing your voices ring loud and clear in your vibrant future that lies ahead. Congratulations, class of 2024!
Celebrating our Graduates
Congratulations to the six young men who make up the Saint Thomas Choir School class of 2024. We look forward to following their future paths and hope they will return to visit.
Christian G. hails from Houston, TX and joined the Choir School in sixth grade. In the fall he will attend Westchester Academy for International Studies in Houston, TX.
William H. hails from Grosse Pointe Park, MI, and joined the Choir School in fourth grade. In the fall he will attend Grosse Pointe South High School in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI.
Elias J. hails from River Edge, NJ and joined the Choir School in fourth grade. In the fall he will attend Phillips Academy Andover in Andover, MA.
Nathan K. hails from Fort Lee, NJ and joined the Choir School in fifth
Premieres for Two Student Composers
In May, the Choir of Men and Boys performed anthems composed by current students Bakore C. and Arthur L., class of 2025, at successive Evensongs. We are grateful for Dr. Filsell’s support and mentorship of these student composers, and for giving them the opportunity to hear their pieces sung by the Choir. We asked Bakore and Arthur about their experience:
Q : How did you become interested in composing?
Arthur: I started composing around the beginning of sixth grade. I was inspired by the Renaissance pieces that we had sung such as William Byrd’s “Second Service.” During Christmas break that year, I wrote my first piece, a set of Preces and Responses. With encouragement and support from Mr. Adach and Dr. Filsell, it premiered in May of 2023.
Bakore: My classmate Arthur Li inspired me to compose. His work encouraged me to try it out on my own because I was proud to see him write music that we sang as a choir. Also, when Mr. Trevor Weston (class of 1981) came to work with us on his composition, American Lamentation, I had a chance to see what I can accomplish with hard work and my experience as a chorister in the future because he is an alumnus of the choir school.
Q : What was the origin of your anthem that the choir premiered at Evensong?
Bakore: I got the words for the music Exsurge Domine from William Byrd. I learned that it came from Psalm 43. Although it comes from only three verses of that psalm, it brings a lot of feelings. It may be perceived as mostly about anger but it also sings of hope.
Arthur: My classmates’ positive response to my Preces and Responses made me confident in my music and encouraged me to continue composing. This May, I wrote my first anthem, “O Sacrum Convivium,” with the goal of developing my compositional style.
grade. In the fall he will attend Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, NJ.
William L. hails from Staten Island, NY and joined the Choir School in third grade. In the fall he will attend Phillips Academy Andover in Andover, MA.
Henry P. hails from Ridgefield, NJ and joined the Choir School in fourth grade. In the fall he will attend RandolphMacon Academy in Front Royal, VA.
Q : How did it feel to have the choir sing a piece that you wrote?
Bakore: At first it felt awkward but later as we rehearsed it together, I was happy that the choir put in their talent to make this possible at Evensong.
Q : Is there anyone in the school community who has helped you with your composing, such as a teacher or classmate?
Arthur: I’m grateful to Mr. Adach and Dr. Filsell for offering feedback, for my classmates’ support, and for the opportunity to have music that I wrote sung by the choir.
Bakore: I want to say a special thank you to Arthur Li, Dr. Filsell, Dr. Yung, Mr. Spoletini and Mr Adach for helping me on my journey as a budding composer and musician. I am grateful to my fellow choristers because they gave acceptance to my first composition in this way.
Student composers Arthur and Bakore, ’25, proudly presenting their pieces
End of Year Highlights
Social Justice Fair | May 31
Throughout the spring semester, students in grades 7 and 8 worked on multimedia activism projects about issues that were important to them. Topics ranged from cyberbullying to the death penalty to animal abuse and more. On the final school day of the year, families and other community members were invited to come view all of the students’ projects on display.
Elias presents his project about the opioid crisis to STCS parents
Bakore presents his project about food insecurity in New York City to Mr. Seeley
Graduation Weekend | June 1–2
Saturday morning’s commencement ceremonies were followed by the traditional cocktail reception and dinner celebrating the graduates, complete with a lavishly decorated graduation cake. On Sunday, the choir and congregation bid an official farewell to our graduates with a valedictory Eucharist.
Shakespeare Performances | May 31
Following the Social Justice Fair, grade 7 and 8 students presented scenes from Shakespeare that they rehearsed in English class this spring under the direction of Ms. Katelin Roberts, School Counselor and resident Shakespeare aficionado.
Grade 8 presented slections from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The class of 2024 poses with their graduation cake
Grade 7 presented a scene from Twelfth Night
The graduates make their way to church for Prize Day ceremonies
A group hike for grades 3–5
2024 STCS Tennis Tournament! Commissioner Mr. Berry, runner-up Henry, and winner Christian
Mr. Patterson lays out the rules before a schoolwide game of Capture the Flag
Learning outdoor survival skills with Mr. Wentling
Smores and scary stories by the campfire
Boating on the lake during waterfront time
Chapel Royal’s Visit to STCS
MARGARET WHITE, Interim Director of Outreach and Enrollment
On the morning of Thursday, April 18, residential faculty on morning duty were surprised to find nearly all our students up and dressed much earlier than usual. “The boys from the Chapel Royal are here!” exclaimed one. “Do we get to meet them today?” asked another. The excitement had been palpable in the weeks leading up to the visit of the Children of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal, and their arrival day was finally here.
The Choir of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal, St. James’s Palace, was established in 1135 and is
history-making
made up of six gentlemen and ten boy choristers who attend City of London School. Despite being one of the oldest existing choral organizations in the world today, the Chapel Royal choir had not made an official visit to the United States until this spring, when the boy choristers and their chaperones spent five days in residence at Saint Thomas Choir School.
After meeting at breakfast that first morning, the Saint Thomas choristers and ten boys from the Chapel Royal lived together in community at the Choir School for the ensuing days. STCS students continued with their regular schedule of classes and sports practices while the Chapel Royal choristers visited top sightseeing spots around the city including the 9/11 Memorial, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Times Square, and Rockefeller Center, and took a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. The groups
came together for meals in the Choir School dining hall and, of course, for choir rehearsals.
During the five-day visit, the two choirs sang three services together at Saint Thomas Church. The first was an Evensong on Friday, April 19, conducted by guest clinician Dr. Phillip Moore as part of the 49th Annual Conference for Choirmasters and Organists. On Sunday, April 21, the choirs joined forces for both a Eucharist and an Evensong, giving the Chapel Royal visitors a glimpse of our choir’s regular Sunday routine. Repertoire included several pieces by Dr. Moore, as well as works of Bairstow, Callahan, Howells, Handel, and Arthur L., rising STCS eighth grade student (see page 3 for more about our student composers).
The final day of the visit was filled with festive activities. During the afternoon sports period the boys faced off in both cricket and baseball, with each team prevailing in their home country’s national pastime. The sporting events were followed by the Choir School’s annual Night of Cultural Cuisine, at which boys from both choirs, faculty, and STCS families shared dishes representing the varied cultural heritage of members of the STCS community. The Chapel Royal contributed sweets and treats they had brought with them from London, and the evening was capped off by a gift exchange between the two groups of choristers.
The choristers and staff of Saint Thomas Choir School extend their gratitude to the Chapel Royal choristers and their chaperones for such a wonderful visit, as well as to everyone in the Saint Thomas, Chapel Royal, and City of London School communities who made the historic visit possible. We hope to see you all again soon on either side of the pond!
During their
visit, the Chapel Royal choristers joined The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys, singing multiple services together at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue.
Alumni News & Notes
STEVEN MUELLER ’74 retired as Captain after a 30–year career as a firefighter. He enjoys traveling, biking, hiking, skiing, serving as his neighborhood handyman, and spending time with his three grandsons.
REV. DR. GREGORY GRESKO ’84 currently serves as a mission partner based in Korea for Dunamis Fellowship International; their Missions work has a global reach with a particular focus on Asia, Europe, and the UK. He writes, “In Korea, I am the Academic Coordinator of the JW Kim College of Future Studies and its Partnership of Asian Management Schools. As part of this university work, I serve as professor teaching Psychology, Ethics and Global Leadership, and various English courses. My published work spans the realms of theology, anthropology, and the ethical considerations of AI and Technology.”
AUGIE SEGGER ’15 received the Hugh Porter Scholarship from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music for the 2024–25 school year. A former Director of the Union Seminary School of Sacred Music, Porter was a distinguished organ recitalist, church organist, and a highly respected teacher. Augie is in his second and final year pursuing a Master of Arts in Religion in which he studies Christian worship in late antiquity and liturgical and sacramental theology. He also sings in several choirs at Yale and continues to study organ.
JONATHAN BOLENA ’20 has been appointed as Organ Scholar at Saint Thomas Church and Choir School for the 2024–2025 school year. In this gap-year role, he will assist with organ-playing, accompanying the choristers at school, the training and theory teaching of probationer choristers, accompanying the Noble Singers, and helping host and facilitate the weekly organ recitalists. He will also support the daily choir library work and assist with student activities at the school. Jon is a recent graduate of Woodberry Forest School where he served as Organ Scholar of St. Andrew’s Chapel and Assistant Director of the Chapel Choir. While at Woodberry, Jon co-founded and led two groups: the Woodberry Forest Chamber Consort, an instrumental group in which he played organ and harpsichord, and the Anglican Choral Tradition Society. Jon is thrilled to return to Saint Thomas and to have the opportunity to serve the church he calls home in a new role.
If you know a girl who loves to sing, please send her our way!
We’ve just wrapped up another great week with the girl choristers! Look out for a full report on this year’s Saint Thomas Girl Chorister Course, as well as information about our 20 th anniversary course in 2025, in the next issue of Choir School News.
NOAH HENTHORN ’20 graduated from Christ School in Arden, North Carolina. Along with his role as Sacristan in Christ School’s chapel program, Noah’s enthusiasm for singing helped renew interest in the choir, where he performed with fellow STCS graduate HARRISON B. ’22. Noah was an AP Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society, and an athlete in both football and track. Noah will attend UNC Asheville, majoring in Biology and Music and competing in field events on the track & field team.
JOVON P.-B. ’23 just returned from attending the RSCM summer choral residency in Washington, DC, where he was reunited with current students DOMINIC S., ZACK R., and ARTHUR S. Jovon and Dominic were roommates, and all four enjoyed having a chance to sing together again!
We’d love to be in touch! Scan to get connected!
Jon Bolena
Calendar of Events
All events take place at Saint Thomas Church unless otherwise specified. For complete information regarding the details of events and services, please refer to saintthomaschurch.org/events or choirschool.org.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 8
First choral services of the 106th academic year
SUNDAY, OCT. 6
10 a.m. Procession & Solemn Eucharist marking the end of Saint Thomas Church bicentennial celebrations
SATURDAY, OCT. 19
11 a.m. 63rd Service of Investiture and Rededication for the Order of St. John
MONDAY, OCT. 21—
SUNDAY, OCT. 27
Choir School fall recess— services to be sung by the Gentlemen of the Choir
TUESDAY, OCT. 29
5 p.m. Admissions open house at the Choir School
Contact Us
Saint Thomas Choir School
212.247.3311 | www.choirschool.org
Christopher Seeley, Head of School
Margaret White, Interim Director of Outreach and Enrollment admissions@choirschool.org
For news & events, visit our website Scan
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www.choirschool.org
www.choirschool.org
212.247.3311