At Good Shepherd, we appreciate and celebrate human artistic expression in its many forms, whether in service to our worship, as engaging elements of our formation programs, or in providing prayerful and reflective spaces. Beauty is an important theological concept – all beauty, whether natural or created, always points beyond itself to the source of all beauty: God. From the beginning of human existence, people have used artistic expression, whether as music, images, sculpture, or movement, as provocative means of revealing the greatest mysteries of the nature of God, the nature of humanity and creation, and the interrelationships between them.
Chris Oelkers, Director of Music and Organist
Jonathan Babcock, Choirmaster
Nathan Thompson, Music Associate and Staff Singer
Christina Baird, Director of Youth Choir
Matt Bradshaw, Director of Music at the Hill
Katie O’Rear, Anarra Whitcher, Will Konitzer, Cassidy Wallace, Francis Nieves, Robert LeBas, Benjamin Apgar, Staff Singers
The Good Shepherd Adult Choir leads worship at our 10:30a Sunday services in the church building and at special liturgies throughout the year. We draw on the very best of ancient, modern and world music, including works by local Austin composers. If you can sing well, are willing to work hard, and can commit to a rehearsal schedule, we welcome your participation. Rehearsals take place on Wednesday evenings from 7:30p to 9:00p. No audition is needed, and you are welcome to sit in on a rehearsal any time if you’d like to try it out. For more information, please contact Chris Oelkers.
The Good Shepherd Evensong Choir is a smaller ensemble drawn from the adult choir. This ensemble
sings at Evensong on the second Sunday of every month during the program year. Evening Prayer is the time when the church gathers to give thanks for the day that is ending, and Evensong is an expression of this, unique to the Anglican tradition and a treasure of our church’s heritage. For more information, please contact Chris Oelkers.
Summer Choir is a great opportunity for members of the congregation with limited time to contribute to the musical life of the church. The summer choir sings and leads worship through the summer months (June to August). It is open to adults and to children in middle school and older, and no experience is necessary. Singers are encouraged to participate as often as their schedules allow. For more information, please contact Chris Oelkers.
Youth Choir fosters the musical growth of our youngest singers. This choir participates in several of our worship services throughout the program year and during holidays. The Youth Choir curriculum comes from the Royal School of Church Music, with which Good Shepherd is affiliated. The Youth Choir practices on Wednesdays from 5:30p to 6:00p. New members are welcome at any time. No prior choir experience is necessary, just a love of singing. For more information, please contact Christina Baird.
The Hill Pickup Choir participates in Sunday worship at the Hill every other week. On weeks when the choir gathers as part of worship, the singers meet at 9:15a to practice the hymns and service music for the day. All are welcome to join. For more information, please contact Matt Bradshaw.
Special concerts are offered throughout the program year and feature a variety of performers, both vocal and instrumental. Past performers have included a folk choir from Eastern Europe, members of the Austin Symphony, classical guitarists, and others. Admission is free, with donations gratefully accepted. See the parish website and calendar for upcoming concerts.
This week-long course is based on the Eton College (England) summer choral courses. Students ages 8 to 14 will experience choral singing at a very high level and will be exposed to a range of music. The course also includes plenty of fun! No musical experience is necessary – all that is needed is enthusiasm! Meets June 5 to June 9 on the Windsor campus. Click here for more information and to register. https://austinjuniorchoralcourse.org/