About the Choirs of Saint Mark's
Saint Mark’s Parish has had an active choir since its earliest days—the cover photo on this page is from c. 1918. The cathedral music ministry developed into its current form during the forty-year tenure of Canon Precentor Emeritus Peter R. Hallock (1924–2014). He served as organist and choirmaster from 1951 to 1991, and established Saint Mark’s national reputation in music, particularly through the Compline Choir, the installation of the Flentrop organ in 1965, and through Dr. Hallock’s influential musical compositions.
This tradition was carried on by the succeeding Canon Musician, Mel Butler, who served from 1992 until 2015. During his tenure, the scope of the musical offerings was expanded, particularly under the influence of Music Associate Dent Davidson, and the youth music program was developed into what is now the Saint Mark’s Cathedral Chior School under the leadership of Brian Fairbanks.
In 2015, following the retirement of Mel Butler, Michael Kleinschmidt began his tenure as Canon Musician for the Cathedral and in short order appointed Rebekah Gilmore as Associate Musician and Choir School Director (full-time), and John Stuntebeck as Associate Organist (part-time).
It is a principle dating back to the time of Peter Hallock that Saint Mark's Cathedral does not, as a rule, engage paid singers. The choirs, including the Compline Choir, are all-volunteer.
Several CDs have been produced by the choirs of Saint Mark’s Cathedral, and are available through The Gothic Catalog.
The Cathedral Choir
This choir of forty to fifty skilled men and women sings most Sunday morning 11:00 a.m. services, in addition to a wide range of festival services and concerts, and rehearses weekly on Thursday evenings between September and mid-June. Its repertory spans over eight centuries of the finest liturgical music, from Gregorian chant to brand new compositions.
Admission to this group is by audition. Please contact Canon Michael Kleinschmidt.
The Saint Mark’s Singers
This is a group of twenty to thirty dedicated singers who provide music for the 9:00 a.m. service each Sunday, September through Mid-June, rehearsing at 8 a.m. on Sundays, and on one Wednesday evening monthly. Their repertory ranges from Mozart to more contemporary styles including gospel and folksong. All who love to sing and want to learn more about liturgical music are welcome to join the choir. While no formal audition is required, a brief meeting with the Canon for Cathedral Music is required for admission to this group.
Contact: Canon Michael Kleinschmidt.
The Compline Choir
Every Sunday evening at 9:30 p.m. in the Cathedral’s darkened nave, the all-male Compline Choir offers a formal choral service of ancient prayers and praises to prepare the soul for a restful night. It is a beloved Seattle tradition.
Auditions are held only when vacancies occur. More information about the choir and the liturgy of Compline can be found on the Compline Choir website.
The Women's Compline Choir
In the summer of 2019, while the men of the Compline Choir were on pilgrimage to the U.K., Saint Mark's Associate Musician Rebekah Gilmore was asked to assemble an all-female choir, comprising some of the most accomplished choral singers in the Seattle area. The services were warmly received, and the Women's Compline Choir now offers services a few times every year, usually in the summer.
The Choir School
Saint Mark's Choir School is comprised of three groups of children and youth: The Junior Choristers, the Senior Choristers, and the Cathedral Schola.
Read more about the Choir School here.
The Evensong Choir
This ensemble consists of advanced Choristers and members of the Schola of the Choir School, plus twelve to twenty auditioned adult singers. They offer Choral Evensong in the English Cathedral tradition on the first Sunday of the month at 4:30 p.m., October through May or June, and sing occasional special liturgies at Christmas and in Holy Week. (Note: The adult singers of the Evensong Choir are required to be members of Saint Mark’s Cathedral Choir or Compline Choir, unless they are professionally engaged as singers or directors in other churches on Sunday mornings.)
This choir served as Choir in Residence for a week at Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London, and a week at Ely Cathedral, in July, 2018. They anticipate additional residencies in English cathedrals approximately every three years, although plans for a 2021 pilgrimage were derailed by the pandemic. They returned to England to sing at Chichester and Bristol Cathedrals August 2022, and Durham and Lincoln Cathedrals in August 2025.
Contact: Canon Michael Kleinschmidt.