Now is a great time to join the growing choral program at ESC! Over the past few years our choirs have grown both in numbers and expertise. They have performed at the National Cathedral and with the Cantata Chorus and have provided consistent, excellent and varied musical leadership to the worship services here at ESC. Our choirs have worked hard to establish a monthly Choral Evensong, one of the few in Hampton Roads. In order to maintain this ambitious program, additional new singers are needed every year. No auditions are necessary, just a desire to sing and the ability to make a commitment to attend all rehearsals and performances.
If you or your child(ren) are interested in joining the ESC Parish Choir, please call Bryan Mitnaul, Organist and Choirmaster at 428-6763. No auditions are necessary, but it would be helpful for him to have a chance to speak with you prior to the first rehearsal. The choir rehearsal schedule is as follows:
Tuesdays, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Training Choir for new children (ages 5 & up)
Wednesdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Senior Choristers
Wednesdays, 6:30 to 7:15 p.m., Dinner
Wednesdays, 7:15 to 8:45 p.m., Adult rehearsalAbout Our Choir
The Choir of Eastern Shore Chapel (1689) has a long history of excellence in sacred music. Currently this choir is the largest in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia and the only choir in the Diocese that continues to sing a regularly scheduled monthly service of Choral Evensong. In addition to its liturgical duties, the choir regularly performs concerts of major sacred works with orchestra. Over the years these performances have included Honneger, King David; Britten, Noye’s Fludde; Bach, Christmas Oratorio; Puccini, Messe de Gloria; Rutter, Te Deum among many others. Most recently, the Choir of Eastern Shore Chapel has performed Mozart, Requiem and Haydn, Mass no. 3 in d minor (“Lord Nelson”). The choir also has performed Handel’s, Messiah on a number of occasions, most recently in collaboration with The Princess Anne Chamber Orchestra, Virginia Beach.
The Choir Eastern Shore Chapel has participated in a number of choir festivals including the Innsbruck International Choral Festival in 2005. In addition, they have performed twice at the Washington National Cathedral, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Capitol Hill; Church of the Epiphany, Washington, DC and Innsbruck Congress Saal Tyrol, Austria. The choir was recently honored with an invitation to provide the choral music at the official celebration of the 400th anniversary of the First Landing at Virginia Beach in April 2007.
The Choir of Eastern Shore Chapel performs regularly with the Eastern Virginia Brass Quintet, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the Virginia Beach Symphony Orchestra. They have also performed concerts with The Cantata Chorus, Norfolk, VA; The Choirs of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Akron, OH and the Amabile Girls Choir, Cumbria, United Kingdom.
The Choir of Eastern Shore Chapel is affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music in America.
Choirmaster & Organist Bryan T. Mitnaul
Bryan T. Mitnaul, was appointed to the post of Organist and Choirmaster at Eastern Shore Chapel (1689) in 2001 where he oversees the largest music program in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia. Mr. Mitnaul is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Oberlin, OH where he studied organ performance with Haskell Thomson. He also studied harpsichord with William Porter and choral conducting with Daniel Moe. While at Oberlin Conservatory, Mr. Mitnaul had the unique opportunity to also work with Harold Vogel, Marie-Claire Alain and Gustav Leonhardt.
For many years Mr. Mitnaul attended the annual Ohio Masters Course of the Royal School of Church Music in America and was privileged to learn from leading choirmasters such as Robert Quade, Gerre Hancock, David Hill, Philip Moore and the late George Guest.
Mr. Mitnaul has served as Organist and Choirmaster at a number of prestigious churches throughout the United States. Prior to coming to Eastern Shore Chapel held a similar post at Fairmount Presbyterian Church, Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
Choirs under Mr. Mitnaul’s direction have performed at a number of prestigious venues including Washington National Cathedral; St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Capitol Hill; Church of the Epiphany, Washington DC; and at the renowned Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY.
During his career Mr. Mitnaul has been in great demand as a recitalist and his performance venues have included Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ; Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland, OH; St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Akron, OH (formerly headquarters of the Royal School of Church Music in America); St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Long Beach, CA and Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ.
In addition to his church duties, Mr. Mitnaul has served as Artistic Director for a number of community choirs, including The Cantata Chorus, Norfolk, VA; The Cleveland Messiah Chorus, Cleveland, OH; and The Ventura Messiah Chorus, Ventura, CA.
Mr. Mitnaul performs regularly with the Eastern Virginia Brass Quintet, Virginia Beach, VA. He has also performed with The Kiev Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Russia; The Cleveland Lyric Brass, The Ohio Chamber Orchestra, The Oberlin Baroque Ensemble and the Princess Anne Chamber Orchestra. The Heritage Brass Quintet of Cleveland produced a CD featuring Mr. Mitnaul as soloist entitled Celebration for Organ and Brass.
Mr. Mitnaul has been the featured performer on a number of radio broadcasts including Organ Masterpieces and Music from Oberlin.
Mr. Mitnaul is a member of The Association of Anglican Musicians, The Royal School of Church Music and is a former Dean of the Cleveland Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
The Music Ministry of Eastern Shore Chapel consists of the following choirs:
The Parish Choir
This group sings at the 9:00 AM service weekly and includes all active ESC adult singers and choristers. They perform a wide variety of challenging choral music from early periods and lead the congregation in singing hymns and service music.The Motet Choir
Comprised of members of the Parish Choir who wish to participate at a higher level of commitment, the Motet Choir sings regularly at both the 9:00 and 11:15 services. This is the premier choir of Eastern Shore Chapel and is the choir that participates in trips to the National Cathedral, RSCM events, tours and other special musical opportunities.Rehearsals for both choirs are held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 - 8:15 pm and on Sunday mornings from 8:15 - 8:45 am. There will be special rehearsals for members of the Motet Choir prior to special services and performances.
The RSCM Training Choir
The Training Choir rehearses weekly on Wednesday evenings from 5:30-6:30 pm (for those unable to attend on Wednesday, a Tuesday rehearsal is also offered from 4:30-5:30 pm). The Royal School of Church Music Chorister Training Program is utilized here. Through this program, children not only learn how to sing, but also learn the fundamentals of music theory. In addition, they learn the historical and religious context in which music was composed and its proper use in the liturgy. Also, they become knowledgeable in all aspects of the liturgy and the seasons of the church year.Their progress in the RSCM program is measured and represented by medals that they receive after each chorister meets certain proficiency requirements. The medals are affixed to a colored ribbon that represents each level of achievement. The levels and ribbon colors are as follows:
Light Blue - Consistently sings on pitch. Fully participates in hymns, psalms and anthems. Excellent behavior at rehearsals, demonstrated working knowledge of the seasons of the church year, elements of the liturgy and understanding of beginning music theory. Regular and punctual attendance at all services and rehearsals is also required.
Dark Blue - Regular choir participation of more than 1 year. Capable of singing short solos, ability to sight sing passages of music, understanding of basic music theory and music history, and attendance at least one RSCM event or its equivalent.
Red - Regular choir participation of more than 2 years. Capable of singing full solos, high level of leadership within the choir, ability to sight sing Anglican chant and complex musical passages, understanding of more advanced music theory, and attendance at least 2 RSCM events and at least one RSCM Choir Camp or equivalent.
The RSCM event requirement can be waived by regular participation in the Motet Choir.
All choristers are expected to make an effort to attend all rehearsals and services. All ESC Choristers are expected to sing in the Parish Choir on a weekly basis. Those choristers in ribbon status are strongly encouraged to sing in the Motet Choir.
Eastern Shore Chapel c.1689
is a part of the Episcopal Church USA
and the Episcopal diocese of Southern Virginia
2020 Laskin Road Virginia Beach, Virginia 23454
Phone 757.428.6763 Fax 757.437.8461
