Trinity’s Chorister Program, rooted in the centuries-old Anglican choral tradition, enhances and supports liturgy and worship while providing young people with an excellent musical education conveyed through sacred music. We strive to create and strengthen a lifelong appreciation for music, equip our choristers with leadership skills, foster personal responsibility, and cultivate deep-rooted friendships. All young people in the Staunton community and beyond, regardless of religious affiliation, or no affiliation, are warmly welcome to participate in the program. While choristers participate in the parish’s worship services, they learn about the Christian faith in an environment that teaches God’s love for everyone and respects other beliefs and faith traditions.
Preparatory Choir
The Preparatory Choir is for young singers in kindergarten through 1st or 2nd grade. Singing games, pitch-matching practice and movement are at the heart of rehearsals. The Prep Choir sings in church about three times per year usually at the 10:30 a.m. liturgy and is co-directed by Constance Harrington and Kristin Reichert. Rehearsals: Tuesdays 3:45-4:15 pm.
Junior Choristers
Children in the Prep Choir who have mastered certain musical skills are promoted to Junior Choristers in about second grade. New choristers, entering the program in mid- to upper-elementary school, usually begin in Junior Choristers as well. Head Choristers, who sing in Senior Choristers, are appointed to serve as role-models for their younger peers. This system is highly effective in teaching children the many skills a good chorister must master. Music reading, understanding liturgy, ear training, and musical geography are just some of the components worked on during these rehearsals. Junior Choristers perform on the second Sunday of each month on “Fellowship Sunday” at the 10:30 a.m. Eucharist. Junior Choristers also attend a half-day Choir Camp for a week each June. Rehearsals: Tuesdays from 3:45 to 5 pm.
Senior Choristers
Our most advanced choir for children is comprised of choristers in middle and high school. These choristers sing great works of art, usually in two or three parts, and have opportunities for retreats, concerts and summer choir camps. Senior Choristers sing Evensong on the second Tuesday of most months, part of the “Tuesdays at Trinity” program, in addition to performances with the Trinity Choir on occasional Sunday mornings, and other services throughout the year. In July of 2024, Senior Choristers joined the Trinity Adult Choir to fill a week-long choir residency at Wells Cathedral in Somerset, UK for a week. We are hopeful that future cathedral residencies will occur about every four or five years.
To further enrich the musical education of our choristers, Trinity offers scholarships to attend summer choral training programs. We are proud that more than 75 percent of our choristers are currently able to attend those fabulous programs. Over the past few years, choristers have attended the RSCM Carolina Course at Duke University in Durham, NC, the renowned Girl Chorister Course at Saint Thomas Choir School in New York City and the RSCM Charlotte, NC Course. Rehearsals: Tuesdays 4:45-6:15 pm.
Trinity Choir
The Trinity Choir sings throughout the year at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Eucharist as well as Choral Evensong and occasional concerts. In July 2024, members of this choir sang a weeklong Choir Residency at Wells Cathedral in Somerset, England, one of several choir trips to the UK over the past 25 years. We welcome singers from the parish and broader community, and new singers are welcome to join at any time. Previous experience in choirs and the ability to read music are helpful but not required. Rehearsals: Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. (September through Trinity Sunday).
Chorister Assistants
Constance Harrington / Preparatory Choir Codirector & Senior Choristers Assistant
Constance Harrington grew up singing in children’s choirs in churches wherever her family lived, as her father was in the Army. Those choirs were frequently led by her grandmother and her mother. Joyous music was always playing in her home. The Trinity choirs have continued the joy of making music together with friends and bringing this joy to children in our church family is where her heart is! Kristin Reichert and Constance started co-leading the youngest choirs many years ago, and now it is just part of their lives. Many of Trinity’s high school age singers have been singing in Trinity’s choirs since they were 5 years old!
Constance has a BS and an MA in Art Education. She taught art at the elementary and high school levels before she became a kindergarten teacher in the Augusta County Schools. Following retirement, she trained to become a Musikgarten teacher, involving families and children from babies to 6-year-olds in music making.
Kristin Reichert / Preparatory Choir Codirector & Senior Choristers Assistant
Kristin Reichert has a BS in environmental science from the University of Mary Washington. She has worked with children and teens in various capacities, including as an organizer of youth activities and camps as a Peace Corps Volunteer, as a counselor at a year-round school camp, as a teacher at Stuart Hall School in Staunton, VA, and most recently as housemother at the St. Thomas Choir School Girl Chorister Course. Kristin fell in love with choral singing when she joined the Trinity Youth Choir as a high school student, and she has enjoyed singing in the Trinity Choir since graduating from college. She has taken great pleasure in bringing a similar experience to Trinity’s current group of young singers through her work with the Preparatory Choir and Senior Choristers, and she finds it exciting to see and hear them respond with enthusiasm and joy.
Kay Buchanan / Accompanist
Kay Buchanan has been singing in choirs since joining the children’s choir of her home church in Indiana. Kay studied piano when growing up and loves to accompany rehearsals and services. When helping with youth choirs, she particularly enjoys seeing the excitement of the choristers when a piece they are working on comes together. Kay has a master’s degree in occupational therapy from Western Michigan University and has spent most of her professional career working as an occupational therapist.
Lillie Harner / Senior Choristers Assistant
Lillie Harner holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Appalachian State University. She has taught middle and high school choir, guitar, theater and general music since 2008. She is the choir director at Staunton High School. Her teaching approach centers around Alexander Technique and Kodály methods. She firmly believes that music is for everyone and that anyone can learn to sing! In addition to her passion for teaching, Lillie writes songs, plays multiple instruments, and has a deep love for Scottish and Irish folk music. She enjoys singing with the Adult Choir and loves the strong feeling of community within the Trinity choir program!