Our music is central to our life of faith.
Our music is a profound expression of our identity and tradition.
Our music shapes our prayers and prepares us for mission in the world.
The St. Paul’s Parish Choir, which sings at the Sunday 10:30am mass, is known for the tonal beauty, pure intonation, and the subtle musicianship of unaccompanied singing. The choir’s repertoire ranges from the sixteenth century to the twenty-first, emphasizing renaissance motets, composers of our own time (such as Arvo Pärt and John Tavener), and the music of the quintessential Anglo-Catholic composer Healey Willan. The Parish Choir sings every Sunday from September through June and rehearses weekly.
The largest choir in St. Paul’s parish, and the most important, is the congregation itself. We are home to an assembly that skillfully sings hymns, psalms, and liturgical responses. One of the joys of St. Paul’s is to be singing a hymn and hear the organ drop away, leaving the entire congregation singing in serene four-part harmony. These occasions reveal the beauty, intimacy, and often lump-in-the-throat poignancy of singing together to the Creator with our very human voices. We are a singing community, and music is one of our most bountiful gifts to all who join us.
Music at St. Paul’s
Enjoy a selection of music that feature our organ and musical settings sung by our choir & individual choir members.
Our Organ
Read about our mechanical action organ.
William Bryant
Director of Music
Dr. William Fletcher Bryant is an accomplished composer, conductor, and organist with a doctor of musical arts degree from the University of Washington. Prior to his position at St. Paul’s, Dr. Bryant was the Director of Music Ministries at Faith Lutheran Church in Redmond, organist at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church on Mercer Island, and organist at University Lutheran Church, Seattle.
Dr. Bryant has received several awards for his diverse compositions, many of which were commissioned pieces and is active in the Seattle music community where he is the Second Clarinetist with the Seattle Festival Orchestra. He has held various positions with the American Guild of Organists and loves to promote new, American literature within the organ repertoire. He is also currently on the music faculty for Music & Arts of Bellevue, Music & Arts of Redmond, and Emerald City Music Makers of Seattle.
He currently lives in First Hill with his sassy black cat Wednesday.