St. Matthew's is home to both a choir of Men and Boys and a choir of Women and Girls. In 2007, the Men and Boys' Choir celebrated its 50th anniversary with a weekend reunion event concert that featured world-renowned baritone Gerald Finley, a former St. Matthew's chorister now living in London, England.

Hundreds of boys have benefited from musical training at St. Matthew’s and several have successfully pursued professional musical careers. These include Mr. Finley, composer and conductor Paul Halley, counter-tenor Daniel Taylor, counter-tenor Matthew White and Kevin Reeves, director of Ottawa’s Regional Youth Choir and founder of Seventeen Voyces.

Generally at St. Matthew’s, the boys form the soprano section of the choir which is responsible for much of the music for the Sunday liturgies. Over the years the choir has toured much of eastern Canada and the U.S.

For more information on the distinguished history of the Men and Boys' Choir, click here for Choir Reunion Bulletin published on the occasion of the 50^th Anniversary celebration in September, 2007.

The Women and Girls’ choir was formed in 1990 and supplements the musical life of the parish. All the choirs combine for major feast services and for many of the concerts in the church’s choral series. Their combined forces exceed one hundred voices, making the St. Matthew's choir one of the largest of any denomination in Canada.

Ages of the Boys' choir range from seven to 14. Many of the boys remain in the choir as members of the men's section after their treble days are over. This continuity helps make their musical experience at St. Matthew's a very special one.

Choir schedules

Choral services at St. Matthews extend from the weekend after Labour Day until the end of June. A Choral Eucharist is sung every Sunday morning at 10 am, with a sung Evensong service at 4pm on the first and third Sundays of the month (except during summer).

The Men and Boys’ choir sings one, and sometimes two, services weekly. The Women and Girls’ choir sings at least one service monthly. Both choirs offer a diverse program of liturgical music. Their repertoire includes music drawn from the rich tradition of the Christian church, ranging from 13th century Plainsong to modern-day compositions. The music program at St. Matthew's is affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music, an international organization that promotes high standards of choral literature and singing in worship.

For information on the choirs or for an audition (whether you're eight or 80!), contact the Music Office at 234-5482.

Evensong

Except during the summer, St. Matthew’s offers a short, sung Evensong service at 4pm on the first and third Sundays of the month featuring members of its Men and Boys’ Choir. Usually lasting about 50 minutes, the contemplative service is sung almost completely by choir and clergy alone. It includes psalms, readings, hymns, anthems and prayers but no sermon. Both spiritually reflective and musically uplifting, it takes its service from the Canadian Book of Common Prayer with canticles (songs) derived from words in the Bible. A lay member of the church also can administer the service. Choral Evensong has long been a specialty of St. Matthew’s, keeping a rich Anglican cultural tradition going on a regular basis.