Music

Music at Grace

Grace Church has a long-standing tradition of excellent music and is currently enjoying significant growth. Our musical mission reflects St. Augustine’s words, “Those who sing pray twice.”

Grace Church is blessed with a dedicated group of vocalists always ready to offer their musical gifts to enrich our worship. The Grace Choir, strong in spirit and talent, sings from a large repertoire of hymns and anthems which varies from Renaissance motets to beloved Southern folk hymns. In addition to Sunday mornings, the choir presents Evensong throughout the year. There is also a core of individuals who serve as cantors during the summer months and for funerals and other special services. Grace additionally enjoys the involvement of guest musicians and our very own roster of parish instrumentalists who share their musical gifts on a regular basis.

Third Sunday Taizé Service (8:00 p.m.)

Singing is one of the most essential elements of worship. The music of Taizé emphasizes simple phrases, usually lines from Psalms, other pieces of Scripture, or from the liturgy, repeated many times and sometimes also sung in canon. Judy Rhodes, Grace’s former youth choir director is the Taizé Music Director and accompanist.

Meet our Music Director, James P. Cassarino:

Before arriving at Grace in September 2019, Jim enjoyed a 15-year tenure serving as the Music Director and Organist for Trinity Episcopal Church in Rutland, Vermont. Preceding Trinity he held a similar position at historic St. Mary’s Church in Newport, RI. For 22 years he served as Professor of Music and Chair of the Music Department at Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vermont. As an academic, he has researched and published papers on topics related to hymnody and congregational singing. He holds degrees in both music and theology from Castleton University, Ball State University, and the School of Theology at St. John’s University. He also earned the Professor of Philosophy degree in ethnomusicology from the University of Wales, where his dissertation focused on Welsh hymnody and its associated music. In addition to his work at Grace, he oversees the music program and serves as the chapel organist and choirmaster at Christ School in nearby Arden.

Meet our Organist, Cathy Adkins:

Cathy Adkins is Professor of Music and Executive Director of General Studies at Mars Hill University. She received a B.Mus. in Organ Performance from UNC-Greensboro, and the M.Mus. in Organ Performance from The University of Michigan. Additionally, Cathy has completed all course work for the Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ Performance at The University of Michigan, and the Ph.D. in Music Education at UNC-Greensboro.

Organ:  W. Zimmer & Sons, Inc. (Opus 84, 1971)
                  2 manuals. 12 stops. 12 registers.