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
Taizé Service in Holy Week
Apr 01, 2026 • 7:00pm - 8:30pm
A Taizé prayer service will be offered as part of our observance of Holy Week. On Wednesday, April 1, at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel, join with us in a contemplative prayer service, using repetitive chants, Scripture readings, and meditation, calling us to dwell deeply on Christ's presence around and within us.
ROCO Concert #4: "Seeing is Believing"
Apr 12, 2026 • 5:00pm - 7:00pm
ROCO concludes its 21st season with ROCO In Concert: Seeing Is Believing—a thrilling finale led by Artistic Partner Delyana Lazarova, and featuring guest soprano Viviana Goodwin and guest concertmaster Laura Frautschi, along with ROCO wind soloists. The season finale features Richard Danielpour’s Breaking the Veil, set for full chamber orchestra, and his Adagietto for Strings, plus the world premiere of Composer In Residence Kevin Lau’s orchestral work inspired by the world of Narnia. The Houston Youth Symphony joins ROCO for a side-by-side performance in Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel’s Overture in C Major, and the evening concludes with J. Todd Frazier’s We Hold These Truths and Wild Horses, sung by Viviana Goodwin.
Eastertide Evensong
May 03, 2026 • 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Continue the celebration of Eastertide with our May Evensong, continuing our monthly Evensong Series here at SJD. Our musical selections center on Christ's victory over death and the glory of Easter's resurrection through works by Herbert Howells, Charles Stanford, and Jacob Handl. Join the Chorale of St. John the Divine for this prayerful and inspiring service, followed by a small reception in the church narthex.
