Salzburg Choral Festival | June 21–28
Nineteen members of Saint Matthew's Choir and their families will embark on a week-long journey to Austria from June 21–28 to participate in the Salzburg Choral Festival. The festival choir will unite singers from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Viva Voices, and Salzburger Liedertafel under the direction of Dr. Edith Copley. Together, they will perform Coronation Mass in C Major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, along with seven additional sacred choral works.
Preparing for this choral festival has inspired and challenged our choir throughout the year as we have worked to learn and refine this repertoire. Many of these pieces have already enriched our Sunday services, allowing our congregation to share in the journey long before we depart. Rehearsing, traveling, and singing alongside our friends from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church will deepen the bonds within our own choir and strengthen the friendship between our two congregations.
As described in the concert program:
“The Erie Street Choir is a vibrant musical partnership uniting the choirs of Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Named for the shared street that connects the two churches—located just 650 meters apart in the heart of Chandler, Arizona—the choir reflects a unique bond of faith, friendship, and community. Choir members look forward to annual choral and handbell collaborations, including Advent Lessons and Carols, Martin Luther King Jr. services, and the community Gratitude Gathering, celebrating music’s power to bring people together.”
While part of our choir is away during this week in June, our Saint Matthew’s music ministry will continue to flourish at the 9:00 AM service through the faithful leadership of Claude Haynes and Gayle Riggert-Harris, and we will have a steady stream of beautiful instrumental and vocal soloists to augment our summer choral anthems.
We ask for your prayers for safe travels, good health, and meaningful fellowship throughout this journey. Above all, we pray that our music will glorify God and bring joy, peace, and inspiration to all who hear it.