Music

Music plays an integral role in our liturgy, community, and outreach at St. James Cathedral. We believe that music inspires the worshipper, teaches the faithful, and comforts the sorrowful. The semi-professional Cathedral Choir offers selections from eleven centuries of sacred choral music at our weekly 11am Choral Eucharist and monthly 4pm Choral Evensong. The Cathedral Choristers sing weekly at the 9am Family Eucharist and Wednesday 5:45pm Evensong, offering trebles a comprehensive and free musical education. And our organists play organ music of the highest calibre from the Renaissance to the present era, including original compositions and improvisations.

Since our founding in 1834, St. James has boasted a strong musical tradition. Our past organists and music directors have included luminaries of American church music such as Dudley Buck, Peter Lutkin, Clarence Dickinson and Leo Sowerby. From 1884-1925, St. James boasted a large choir of men and boys. From 1925 to the present, our primary choir has been a mixed adult choir comprised of professional singers and auditioned volunteers. In 2017, St. James Cathedral founded the Choir School, an after-school chorister program open to children in grades 3-10. Additionally, St. James Cathedral hosts dozens of concerts throughout the year, most notably our popular Rush Hour series.

We invite you to learn more about our musical offerings below. If you would like to learn more about upcoming events, please subscribe to our music enews using the form on this page.

Cathedral Choir

The Cathedral Choir sings Sundays at 11 a.m. and other special services. Made up of auditioned volunteers and paid professionals from the church, the choir’s repertoire is rooted in the Anglican cathedral tradition, spanning sacred choral music from the 16th century to the modern era.

Cathedral Choir School

The Choir School is an after-school program that offers children a world-class musical training at no cost financially. Choristers have the opportunity to tour, attend summer choir camp, make recordings, and—of course—sing excellent music.

Choral Season 2024-25

St. James presents special choral services throughout the year, performed by the Cathedral Choir and joined by outstanding local and international musicians.

Concerts

St. James hosts dozens of concerts throughout the year, featuring choral, symphonic, and chamber music. Rush Hour Concerts was founded at St. James Cathedral and continues to invigorate Chicago's live music scene with performances every Tuesday from June through August.

New Organ

St. James Cathedral is excited to announce an innovative new organ project. In the summer of 2023, St. James will acquire and restore the 1957 J.W. Walker & Sons organ from the London City Temple. This project will bring a world-class organ to St. James while preserving a musical treasure. Restoration and installation at St. James Cathedral is expected in 2025.
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