SJD Choristers
The SJD Chorister Program offers a rich choral experience for children and youth from age 3 – grade 12. We utilize the Royal School of Church Music Voice for Life Curriculum with our choristers. Read more about this program here.
Rehearsal Schedule for 2025 - 26
Rehearsals begin on Tuesday & Wednesday, September 2 & 3, 2025
Cherub Choir Age 3 - Kindergarten: Tuesdays, 3:15 – 3:45 pm
Cherub Choir Age 3 - Kindergarten: Tuesdays, 4:00 – 4:30 pm
Preparatory Choir 1st – 3rd Grade: Tuesdays, 4:45 – 5:30 pm
Choristers 4th – 12th Grade: Wednesdays, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Handbooks:
Cherub Choir ♪ Preparatory Choir ♪ SJD Choristers
Registration:
To inquire about registration, email Anna Teagarden, associate director of music, SJD Choristers.
The Cherub Choir: Age 3 — Kindergarten
Rehearses Tuesdays 3:15 – 3:45 pm and 4:00 - 4:30 pm
The Cherub Choir learns to sing worship songs in a joyful and fun setting. Because children love to sing, we aspire to foster that love as they progress through the SJD Chorister program. The Cherub Choir sings throughout the year in Awesome Worship, Traditional services in the church, Christmas Eve, and Palm Sunday.
The Preparatory Choir: Grades 1 — 3
Rehearses Tuesdays 4:45 - 5:30 pm
The Preparatory Choir sings periodically throughout the year for worship services and on Christmas Eve and Palm Sunday. Choristers begin their engagement with the Voice for Life curriculum, as they develop new skills and a joy of singing.
The Choristers: Grades 4 — 12
Rehearses Wednesdays 5:30 - 6:30 pm
The Choristers are an integral part of the Choir of St. John the Divine. Training them to become the next generation of worship leaders, the Choristers sing regularly and intergenerationally with the adult members of the SJD Chorale both in Sunday morning traditional worship and Choral Evensong services. Our Choristers participate in many facets of our choral program, including workshops with renowned clinicians and our summer residencies in England.
The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) was founded in England in 1927 as a training college for church musicians and an association of affiliated churches committed to attaining high standards of musical performance. The RSCM has grown to become an international and ecumenical organization, with more than 11,000 affiliates in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Nigeria, and throughout Europe. The RSCM has grown to become an international and ecumenical organization, with more than 11,000 affiliates in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Nigeria, and throughout Europe.
The RSCM Gulf Coast Course is one of 9 training courses in the US that take place during the summer. The Gulf Coast Course is for girls, ages 10 – 18. The Gulf Coast Course will be hosted by The Church of St. John the Divine and has been housed at both Rice University and the University of St. Thomas.
Our own Anna Teagarden, associate director of music, SJD Choristers, is the manager of the Gulf Coast Courses.
SJD Choristers Staff
After finishing her Master's in Voice Performance at the University of Texas, Anna moved to Houston with her then fiancé, Joe. Anna taught music at The Fay School, River Oaks Baptist, and St. Paul's UMC. Anna is also a vocalist, ranging from classical to jazz. She is happily married to Joe with twin daughters in college.
Upcoming Events
Advent Lessons and Carols
Dec 07, 2025 • 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Join us for a festival of Advent Lessons & Carols in the Church on December 7 at 5 pm. Led by all the choirs of St John the Divine (Preparatory, SJD Choristers, and SJD Chorale), this candlelight service of readings, each followed by a carol, tells the story of man’s fall from grace and the foretelling of the coming of Christ by the prophets. Come to Sumners Hall after the service for a holiday reception for the entire family!
ROCO In Concert: Do You Hear What I Hear?
Feb 07, 2026 • 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Celebrate American stories and voices as conductor Anthony Parnther makes his ROCO debut, joined by guest concertmaster Tereza Stanislav and the 40-piece chamber orchestra. The program features Duke Ellington’s New World A-Comin’ and new ROCO commissions by Patricia Leonard, Gala Flagello, and Jason Stephens. ROCOrooters will be available during the concert for children ages 2 months to 10 years.
