Music is an integral portion of St. Andrew's worship and parish life. Children, youth and adults are all welcome to come be a part of this vital ministry!

August Worship Notes

This month, the 8 a.m. service music is composed by James McGregor (s-89 and s-117). The 10:15 a.m. service music is written by William Mathias (s-278 and s-128). Both liturgies will return to the fraction anthem, “Whoever Comes to Me,” composed by Arlen Clarke.

Music Opportunities for Adults

Contact Sharon Hettinger at (816) 523-1602, x112, for all items listed below. 

Chancel Choir

The Chancel Choir is always looking to expand its numbers - we'd love for YOU to join us!!

We welcome all who love to sing, from high school age on up…. The Chancel Choir is a welcoming ensemble of singers who meet weekly to rehearse and to lead worship. All are invited to sing at either the 8 or 10:15 a.m. liturgies (or both!), in addition to major feast days (Christmas Eve, Holy Week, and others). Not sure? Come on down and audition US! We practice Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Choir Room, which is on the far east end of the basement (near Wornall Rd.). Even if you've been away from choir for a while, love to sing but don't know anyone, we welcome one and all! Come join us as we make music to serve the Lord with joyful hearts and voices! Questions? Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 816-523-1602, ext. 112.

Chancel Choir Section Leaders

Meet Allison Fikejs, soprano, and her husband Mark Burroughs, tenor. Mark and Allison have many years of singing experience together and separately, and have already impacted the music ministry here at St. Andrew’s since 2007. They are working hard to recruit new choral prospects and you’ll enjoy getting to know them! Allison keeps busy in her new job as interior designer and Mark works for CountryFinancial.

Christina Cutcliffe, alto, and her husband, Brad Cutcliffe, bass, have been singing with us since 2007. Christina works at St. Paul’s Day School as Director of Development. Brad earned his Ph.D. in Music [composition], and is composer in-residence for Northland Symphony Orchestra, and also is adjunct instructor and guest lecturer for Maple Woods Community College and William Jewell College.

Summer Choir

Love to sing? Just can not squeeze in another activity during the year? Then Summer Choir is for you! The music is standard choral literature, and hopefully familiar to you. We practice Sunday mornings - one hour before the service - in the choir room. We invite you to sing as often as you are able at the 8 or 10:15 liturgies (or both!).

Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to let her know of your interest and participation (or any questions you may have): (816) 523-1602 ext. 112.

Instrumentalists

Opportunities for individuals who play instruments include Candlelight Communion on Sunday afternoons at 5 p.m., and Sunday prelude and postlude voluntaries, in addition to descants or accompaniments for hymns and service music.

Organist's Assistants Ministry

Prepare the hymnal and service book, turn pages for the prelude, postlude, anthem, service music, and assist the organist in other ways. People in grades 3 and up may serve in this ministry.

St. Andrew's Ringers

This group, for college students and older, meets on Thursday evenings from 6-7 p.m. If you read music and like teamwork….this is the place for you! Never rung bells before?  It’s quite straightforward, and we’ll start you out with just two notes. Instruction provided.

Music Opportunities for Youth

Contact Sharon Hettinger at (816) 523-1602, x112, for all items listed below.

Organist's Assistants Ministry

Prepare the hymnal and service book, turn pages for the prelude, postlude, anthem, service music, and assist the organist in other ways. People in grades 3 and up may serve in this ministry.

The King's Ringers

A hands-on opportunity for youth in grades 7-12 open to any and all youth. Bring a friend! Let’s get everyone active, practice, and ‘go on the road’ with our bells!  Don’t read music?  Don’t fret.  We’ll get you ringing one bell at a time!

TOOT YOUR OWN HORN
After All, You’re Instrumental to our Worship!

Do you play clarinet? Flute? Violin? Cello? Bassoon? Trombone? Trumpet? Recorder? Or…some other instrument?  You are needed and wanted for playing in worship on Sunday mornings for our 8 or 10:15 liturgies, or for Candlelight Communion on Sunday afternoons at 5 p.m.

 Music Opportunities for Children

 Young people need to see that a love for music and a love for God go hand in hand. That’s why our young people can get involved in liturgical music all the way from first grade through high school.

To give young people a greater opportunity to take part in music ministries at Saint Andrew’s, rehearsals for each of the following ensembles will take place in the weeks just before ensemble takes part in the liturgy.

Contact Sharon Hettinger at (816) 523-1602, x112, for all items listed below.

Children’s Choirs Gearing Up for Fall

Coming this fall: an opportunity for your child to become a member of one of the Children's Choirs here at St. Andrew's!

Choristers is for children in grades 1-2. Weekly rehearsals will be held on Wednesday afternoons, from 4:15-4:45 p.m. This choir will introduce basic musicianship and worship skills.

Sing & Ring is for children in grades 3-6. Weekly rehearsals will be held on Wednesdays, from 4:45-5:30 p.m. This Choir will be a Sing-n-Ring (handbells & vocal) Choir. Children will help lead worship through music once each month. Rehearsals will begin on Wednesday, August 25. The last scheduled singing time in worship is May 1, 2011.

"Let the children come to me," said Jesus. My hope is that your child will begin to walk with Jesus, through participation in Sunday School, Church, and the Music Ministry of St. Andrew's. Sign up NOW, to reserve a place in the choir for your child!

Questions? Want to register your child? Contact me, Sharon Hettinger, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Vocal/Handbell Choirs

Choristers, a musical training choir for children in grades 1-2

Weekly rehearsals will be held on Wednesday afternoons, from 4:15-4:45 p.m. This choir will introduce basic musicianship and worship skills.

From left to right: Ben, Ryan, Oliver and Brandon

SING & RING Choir … for Students in Grades 3 – 6

Sing & Ring Choir weekly rehearsals will be held on Wednesdays, from 4:45-5:30 p.m. Children will help lead worship through music once each month. Rehearsals will begin on Wednesday, August 25. The last scheduled singing time in worship is May 1, 2011.

Organist's Assistants Ministry

Prepare the hymnal and service book, turn pages for the prelude, postlude, anthem, service music, and assist the organist in other ways. People in grades 3 and up may serve in this ministry.

Instrumentalists

Opportunities for students who play band or orchestral instruments include Sunday morning prelude and postlude voluntaries, descants or accompaniments for hymns and service music, and for Candlelight Communion on Sunday afternoons at 5 p.m. 

  Fall Kindermusik is underway!

Fall Kindermusik classes at St. Andrew's are in full swing with lots of wiggles, giggles, and smiles in the Undercroft. What is Kindermusik all about? Well, we all know music helps children become better learners, and Kindermusik taps into that potential in a way that is fun and pressure-free.

But what's more? All the research in the world can't capture the pure joy and delight your child will experience in Kindermusik, both in the classroom and at home. We'll help you foster a bond with your child that will last a lifetime. Parents tell us every day that they look forward to Kindermusik because they can really stop, breathe, center, and focus all their attention on their child. In our frantically paced lives, this time is becoming harder and harder to find.

So, pause and take a quick moment to sign up for a Kindermusik class this fall - click here! What will take you just a few minutes will bring you both hours of laughter and delight, plus learning benefits and special memories which will last forever.

About Our Organ

The pipe organ for Saint Andrew's Church, designed and built by Quimby Pipe Organs, Inc., Warrensburg, Missouri, is a four manual instrument of 65 ranks, and contains 3,640 pipes, of which 2,219 were retained from the previous 40-rank Aeolian-Skinner organ opus 1411 and revoiced for the new location.

The organ uses Blackinton-style electro-pneumatic slider windchests and electro-pneumatic unit windchests for extended ranks. The new casework for the chancel organ is constructed of oak and contains 34 polished zinc pipes with tin mouths. The pipes in the case are functional and are part of the Great 8' Principal, Pedal 8' Principal, and Pedal 16' Principal stops. The antiphonal organ, which was the Aeolian-Skinner organ's Great division, features the Hooded Tuba stop, which is based on examples of the 19th-century English organbuilder Henry Willis I. The Pedal organ contains a full length 32' Contre Bombarde to low GGGG, with the remaining seven pipes being half length. These pipes are located in the old organ chamber.

The key and stop functions are controlled by Solid State Logic multiplex relay system with player. The SSL combination action has 32 levels of memory, four ensemble pistons, four crescendo settings of which three are programmable by the organist, and a sforzando reversible, which is inclusive of stops drawn and independently adjustable on each memory level.

All new pipes were constructed according to specifications provided by the organbuilder by A. R. Schopp's Sons Inc., and Thomas H. Anderson, former pipe shop foreman at Aeolian-Skinner. Electronics are used for notes 1 through 12 of the 32' Contre Bourdon. John H. Hendriksen, former head flue voicer for Aeolian-Skinner, revoiced the original Aeolian-Skinner pipe work and four new ranks, including the Hooded Tuba, in consultation with the builder. The tonal design of the entire instrument and voicing and scaling procedures of the new chancel Great division were accomplished by the builder.

* indicates new stops added by Quimby Pipe Organs, Inc.