"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!" 

PSALM 98:4

BACH CANTATA VESPERS

AMERICAN KANTOREI


Sunday, October 6 | 3:00 p.m.    


Music at St. Paul's cordially invites you to Cantata Vespers with the American Kantorei chorus and orchestra. The service of Evening Prayer will feature music from Cantatas 23, 46, and 127 by Johann Sebastian Bach. 


The Kantorei, under the directorship of Dr. Maurice Boyer, specializes in the performance of J. S. Bach’s sacred choral works in the original German, accompanied by orchestra. 


The event is complimentary, with a freewill offering, and is open to the public. 

sanctus

HYMN OF THE  MONTH REFLECTIONS


At St. Paul’s, the Hymn of the Month is sung in our worship each week. May these reflections enrich your worship and devotional focus. 


In our school, children sing the Hymn of the Month in Chapel, learn stanzas as memory work, and study the hymn in music classes.


"Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. The gift of language combined with the gift of song was given to man that he should proclaim the Word of God through Music."

Martin Luther



hymn of the month

 Find Hymn of the Month sheets in your worship folder on the first Sunday of each month, at the church information counter, and here on St. Paul's Music webpage.

33rd season | 2024-2025

music at st. Paul's

Music at St. Paul's is a vital, self-sustaining component of our congregation's music ministry. Under the directorship of Kantor Matthew Gerhard and in its 33rd season, this annual series of special services and musical events brings to St. Paul's guest ensembles and artists who, through words and music, proclaim the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. This music series benefits the members of St. Paul's and serves as an outreach to the greater St. Louis community and beyond. In addition, Music at St. Paul's sponsors the music for festival services in our congregation's regular worship life and provides enrichment for the overall music ministry of our parish.

  • Click here to support Music at St. Paul's with your donation online
  • Update your information or contact us here
  • Visit Music at St. Paul's on Facebook here
  • Downloadable 2024-2025 season poster here

Offerings during this season include:


SEPTEMBER

CHORAL VESPERS

  Feast of St. Michael and All Angels

  Choirs and instrumentalists of St. Paul’s

  Sunday, September 29, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.


OCTOBER

J.S. BACH CANTATA VESPERS

  The American Kantorei

  Dr. Maurice Boyer, music director

  Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.


DECEMBER

SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS

  Choirs and instrumentalists of St. Paul’s

  Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

  Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.


FEBRUARY

J.S. BACH CONCERT

  The American Kantorei

  Dr. Maurice Boyer, music director

  Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.


MARCH

ORGAN CONCERT

  Joel Stoppenhagen, organist

  Sunday, March 9, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.


MAY

THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD

  Choirs and instrumentalists of St. Paul’s

  Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. Divine Service

music opportunities

Music serves a vital role in the worship life of St. Paul's. A number of opportunities are provided for people to use their talents in proclaiming the Gospel through music. Prayerfully consider serving this season in one or more of the following music ensembles


For more information, contact St. Paul's Kantor, Matt Gerhardt, or those listed as directors below: Worship Team Director, Whitney Wade, and Handbells Director, Carol Petering. Click the icon to read more about each choir.

  • Director: Matt Gerhardt

    • Men and women, high school to adult
    • Traditional, liturgical music, from simple unison to more complex literature
    • Rehearsals: In the Bender Music Room, Wednesdays, 7:00-8:30 p.m., late August through May
  • Director: Matt Gerhardt

    • Men, high school to adult
    • Sings several times each year
    • Rehearsals: two or three weeks before singing; contact the director for dates and times
  • Director: Matt Gerhardt

    • Women, high school to adult
    • Sings several times each year
    • Rehearsals: two or three weeks before singing; contact the director for dates and times
  • Director: Matt Gerhardt

    • Experienced instrumentalists, high school to adult
    • Brass, percussion, strings, woodwind
    • Rehearsals: Scheduled as needed
  • Director: Whitney Wade

    • Participate in our Living Stone service on Sunday mornings at 10:45am
    • Experienced instrumentalists & singers, high school to adult
    • Guitars, drums, bass, horns, strings, keyboards, woodwinds, and voices
  • Director: Carol Petering

    • Some prior music reading ability required
    • Rehearsals: Church balcony

radio interviews

with St. Paul's Music ministry

JANUARY 26, 2022 BROADCAST: Listen here

Kantor Gerhardt and St. Paul's Lutheran School students were interviewed during National Lutheran Schools Week about the importance of music ministry in our schools today. Our students shared in their own words about the blessings of Lutheran education.


JULY 29, 2021 BROADCAST: Listen here

Listen as Matt Gerhardt, St. Paul's Kantor, talks about the music of J. S. Bach, its treatment in worship, and the legacy of music education in our schools, during "Bach Week" on KFUO Radio's Coffee Hour, hosted by Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth.


SEPT. 25, 2020 BROADCAST: Listen here

Mr. Matthew Gerhardt, St. Paul’s Kantor, and the Rev. Dr. Jon Vieker talked with KFUO Radio Coffee Hour hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth about Music at St. Paul's 2020-2021 season-opening hymn festival. The pair discussed who Paul Gerhardt was and what his life was like, the influences on his hymn writing, and the wonderful hymnody presented and sung at St. Paul's in September. 


DEC. 3, 2019 BROADCAST: Listen here

Dr. Mark Bender, St. Paul's Minister of Music, and Matt Gerhart, then Associate Minister of Music, visited the KFUO 850AM studios as guests on The Coffee Hour show, with hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth, during the season of Advent. They discussed the Service of Sacred Music for the Time of Christmas, including the meaningfulness of the choral selections, and the Bible passages and liturgy behind them.


JANUARY 26, 2022 BROADCAST: Listen here

Kantor Gerhardt and St. Paul's Lutheran School students were interviewed during National Lutheran Schools Week about the importance of music ministry in our schools today. Our students shared in their own words about the blessings of Lutheran education.


JULY 29, 2021 BROADCAST: Listen here

Listen as Matt Gerhardt, St. Paul's Kantor, talks about the music of J. S. Bach, its treatment in worship, and the legacy of music education in our schools, during "Bach Week" on KFUO Radio's Coffee Hour, hosted by Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth.


SEPT. 25, 2020 BROADCAST: Listen here

Mr. Matthew Gerhardt, St. Paul’s Kantor, and the Rev. Dr. Jon Vieker talked with KFUO Radio Coffee Hour hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth about Music at St. Paul's 2020-2021 season-opening hymn festival. The pair discussed who Paul Gerhardt was and what his life was like, the influences on his hymn writing, and the wonderful hymnody presented and sung at St. Paul's in September. 


DEC. 3, 2019 BROADCAST: Listen here

Dr. Mark Bender, St. Paul's Minister of Music, and Matt Gerhart, then Associate Minister of Music, visited the KFUO 850AM studios as guests on The Coffee Hour show, with hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth, during the season of Advent. They discussed the Service of Sacred Music for the Time of Christmas, including the meaningfulness of the choral selections, and the Bible passages and liturgy behind them.