JOHN ST. MARIE
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
 John St. Marie is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana where he attended Loyola University double-majoring in John St. Marie is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana where he attended Loyola University double-majoring in voice and music therapy.  After completing his coursework in music therapy, he was accepted into a clinical internship program in California to complete his degree requirements.  During this time, John was accepted into the Los Angeles Master Chorale and decided to remain in California as a music therapist at a local state hospital and to pursue a professional singing career.  He has worked with dozens of the worlds finest orchestral and choral conductors; Paul Salamunovich, John Alexander, Robert Page, Grant Gershon, Simon Rattle, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Seiji Ozawa, Keith Lockhart, and Zubin Mehta among others.
 
John’s church background is eclectic: he grew up Catholic but since college has served by providing his singing talents in a variety of Protestant churches.  He was the tenor soloist at La Canada Presbyterian Church for 7 years, and during this time he became very involved with ministry and served several years as Chaplain for the choir.  Though his professional singing career and music therapy service continued to provide a wealth of opportunity, John decided that his love of ministry in the church should take a larger role and to that end, returned to school to pursue a Master of Music degree in conducting. This training would better enable him to share his passion for music with others who sing in the church.  After completing his studies at California State University, Fullerton with John Alexander in 2005, John was accepted to USC to pursue his Doctorate in Choral Music and concurrently began serving as Director of Music Ministries at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Whittier.
 
John is enthusiastic about sharing his love of God and his passion for music with others who wish to experience the beauty, compassion, and joy of music as it infiltrates the heart and transforms into a conduit for worship.  He believes that everyone in the congregation should lift their voices in praise and that this act draws us closer to God; not only through the beauty inherent in the melody and harmony of the music, but also through the message of the lyrics.  Words written in response to God’s Word, in praise of the gifts God has bestowed upon us, and to encapsulate the beliefs, the love, and the compassion observed in our daily lives because of our walk with God.
 
DAVID CLEMENSEN
ACCOMPANIST/PIANIST
We are pleased to introduce David Clemensen as our collaborative keyboard artist for 1st and 2nd services.  David is an accomplished pianist with a significant background in church music.  He has served as director of music or as accompanist in local churches over the past 20 years.  David received his Doctorate in Keyboard and Collaborative Arts from the University of Southern California and has had a distinguished career as a collaborative and solo pianist.  He has served as the principal accompanist for Pacific Chorale since 2003.  We are pleased to welcome him to IUCC and look forward to being blessed by his gifted leadership from the piano.

EASTER 2011

IUCC Chancel Choir

"He is Not Here"

by Russell Nagy.

"Antiphon"

by Ralph Vaughan Williams

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Easter 2009


Chancel Choir & Easter Brass
"All Creatures of Our God and King"
arr. Julian Wachner
Directed by Dr. Robert Istad
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Dr. Robert Istad's
Last Sunday at IUCC
Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009


Chancel Choir
"This Is the Day"
by Hal Thompson
Directed by Dr. Robert Istad


Chancel Choir
"Alleluia"
Paul Basler
Directed by Dr. Robert Istad

Chancel Choir

Since its inception in 1984, the Irvine United Congregational Church Chancel Choir continues to strive for new heights of artistic excellence and spiritual inspiration in the performance of music in worship. Members of the Chancel Choir find great pride in their efforts to support one another, the congregation, and the progressive and inclusive mission of Irvine United Congregational Church. Since 1988, IUCC’s Chancel Choir has built a tradition of fine choral singing of superior repertoire in weekly worship services, festive special services, inventive holiday programs, and an annual musical variety show. IUCC’s musical programs have garnered high praise from the outside community and attract a sizeable, supportive audience from all over Los Angeles and Orange County. The choir, an entirely volunteer ensemble, has been guided to musical excellence through the efforts of many extraordinary artists including Bonnie McClain, Paul MacNeff, Ted Reid, and most recently, Robert Istad and pianist Jill Carter. Through the guidance of Mr. Istad, the chorus has developed a community concert series that brings the chorus and community together in support of local and guest artists. The chorus annually produces “A Winter’s Solstice,” an Advent program of lessons and carols, and a program of large choral-orchestral works in the spring. In summer 2005, the Chancel Choir performed to high acclaim for large audiences on a concert tour throughout northern Italy. As part of this tour, the choir was invited to be a featured ensemble in the prestigious sacred music festival that takes place annually in the medieval city of Lucca. The chorus has also performed with members of the University of Southern California’s Thornton Symphony in J.S. Bach’s Cantata BWV 140 Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria, W.A. Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de Confessore, K. 339, Faure’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs. The choir has also performed many other great works including Benjamin Britten’s Festival Te Deum and Rejoice in the Lamb, Saint-Saëns’ Christmas Orartorio, and John Rutter’s Requiem. The choir looks forward to an upcoming concert tour throughout France during the summer of 2009.