Music

Music Ministry

“O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
 Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
 Let us come before God’s presence with thanksgiving;
 Let us shout joyfully to God with psalms.” Psalm 95

Latest Video The Choir Evensongs Christmas Festival Chamber Music

OUR MUSIC MINISTRY

It is our intention that the music of The House of Prayer for All People reflect the people sitting in the pews. Therefore, it is eclectic, warm, inviting, diverse, and full of love for God and humanity. 

Mardis Gras Evensong

February 19, 2022

more videos

The mission of the music ministry is to lead the St. Stephen’s community in liturgies that glorify God, move the heart, and challenge the mind.

The parish has garnered a reputation for embracing music that covers a wide variety of styles and expressions. Musical offerings on any given Sunday include African American spirituals and gospel songs, alongside the vast repertoire of Anglican, American, and European church music. It is not Frozen Chosen repertoire.

The St. Stephen’s Choir

The cornerstone of the music is The St. Stephen’s Choir. This thirty-voice ensemble is comprised of volunteers, with occasional help from our professional friends in the community. They sing at 11 AM every Sunday, September-Pentecost, and they also offer musical leadership at Choral Evensong, during Advent, Christmas, and Holy Week. 

Choral Evensongs

In 2017, we were honored to welcome The Most Rev. Michael Curry to Charleston for his first visit as Presiding Bishop with a Blues Choral Evensong. Other Choral Evensongs have been offered to celebrate the Leonard Bernstein centenary and the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. 

Christmas Festival

The annual Christmas Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols has become a Charleston tradition and is attended by many friends from the community and beyond.  

Chamber Music

Chamber Music at St. Stephen’s is an occasional series that offers a variety of concerts. Recent programs include the Savannah Children’s Choir, Organic Percussion with Grammy Award winning marimbist Joe Gramley, and TRANSFIGURED: A Virtual Chamber Music Concert for Transfiguration Day, which has proved to be one of our most viewed YouTube videos during the 2020 Pandemic. 
 
It is our intention that the music of The House of Prayer for All People reflect the people sitting in the pews. Therefore, it is eclectic, warm, inviting, diverse, and full of love for God and humanity. 
 
Music has the power to inspire, to console, to comfort and to heal and is one of God’s greatest gifts to humankind. Thanks be to God that music is an important and integral part of this parish.

St. Stephen’s Music Ministry

Wayne Helmly

Wayne Helmly

Music Director

Wayne has served as our Organist-Choirmaster since 2010. Additionally, Wayne is a public school music teacher and an active recitalist.

For information about St. Stephen’s Choir, please email Wayne