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From the majestic sound of the organ to the quiet reflective chant, at St. Paul music plays a central role as we reach out to the Divine. Recognizing the vast wealth of sacred music in our tradition we strive to bring this music alive in our worship. Through our various musical ensembles we encourage all members to grow and deepen their faith as they work together to develop their musical talents.
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Sing with Us.
St. Paul has a long tradition of choral music. Affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music we are committed to providing choral and solo opportunities for singers age four through adults.
Allegro
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Allegro offers children from ages four through seven a grounding in music and singing with expert instruction. Allegro will participate in occasional services and concerts throughout the liturgical season. Singers graduating from Allegro move on to the St. Paul Choristers. Allegro is directed by Mr. Kent Jager.
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Choristers
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Children age eight to fourteen prepare and perform choral music for children’s voices as well as SATB literature with the St. Paul Singers. Choristers receive musical instruction from highly qualified musicians and participate in the RSCM America Voices for Life curriculum to prepare for a lifetime of singing. The choir will sing once a month for St. Paul worship and at other special events during the year. Choristers are eligible to participate in summer choir camps sponsored by the RSCM America. The Choristers are directed by Mr. Kent Jager.
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Singers
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The St. Paul Singers are high school through adult singers that meet regularly to prepare choral music from all periods and styles. From ancient chant to modern hymnody the singers will relish in the amazing treasure of the world’s great composers. With a rehearsal and performance schedule carefully design to accommodate our busy schedules the choir will typically have one required rehearsal each month and will sing for once a month for Sunday morning worship at St. Paul as well as other special events during the year. Singers interested in furthering their musical education may continue with the RSCM America Voices for Life curriculum and also are eligible to participate in summer choir camps sponsored by the RSCM America. The Singers are directed by Mr. Kent Jager
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Ring with Us.
The St. Paul Ringers handbell choir is open to all individuals from age 12 and up. The Ringers play the 4 octave set of Schulmerich handbells at St. Paul. The choir rehearses once a month at 8:45 am prior to the 10:00 am Sunday service and then plays for the service. The Ringers are directed by Kent Jager.
Our Musicians.
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Kent Jager
[email protected] |
Tim Foster
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Michael Philipsen
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Kent Jager started his ministry at St. Paul in the spring of 2021. With a particular passion
for sacred choral music and organ literature Kent works with the other St. Paul musicians to open the rich heritage of sacred music to our families and the community. On a typical Sunday you will find him at the organ, working with the St. Paul Ringers, or singing special music. His church music experience began at the early age of 14 when he started playing for weekly services at Faith Community Church in Eddyville, IA. From there he went on to Central College in Pella, IA where he received a Bachelor degree in Organ Performance, studying with Davis Folkerts, and sang with the A Capella Choir and Chamber Singers. After Central he was the interim organist at First Presbyterian in Ottumwa, IA for a year before heading to Evanston, IL to work on his Master’s Degree in Church Music. While at Northwestern he studied organ with Grigg Fountain and choral conducting with Robert Harris and was the Assistant Organist at First Presbyterian Church in Evanston. He received his degree in the spring of 1983. Following Northwestern he accepted the position of Assistant Organist at Holy Name Cathedral. At Holy Name he worked with Richard Proulx, a leading church musician in the United States at the time. His primary responsibilities included working with the Cathedral Girls and Boys Choirs, the Women’s Schola, assisting with the Cathedral Gallery Singers (a volunteer adult choir), and playing for the many Masses at the Cathedral. In 1999 Kent became the Assistant Organist at Queen of Angels Parish in Chicago and was appoint Music Director in 2001. As Music Director he established a graded choir program at the parish This included the Cherub Choir (grades K – 3), the Choristers (grades 4 – 8), St. Cecilia Singers (high school and adult volunteers), and the Schola Angelorum (the adult professional choir). In addition to the choral work he was principal organist for the parish. In 2021 Kent “retired” from Queen of Angels to spend more time in Iowa with his family. The retirement was short as St. Paul needed at organist about that time and Kent first played at St. Paul in May of 2021. Kent is excited to be a part of the music ministry at St. Paul and looks to continue the long tradition of fine choral and organ music which the church is known for. He hopes everyone will have the opportunity to discover the beauty of sacred music and welcomes anyone interested to contact him if they would like to be a part of the Music Ministry at St. Paul. |
Tim Foster began playing organ and singing at St. Paul in December, 2021. Tim grew up in Oskaloosa singing in various choirs at the Methodist church, in the GOVAP children’s chorus, OPUS honor choir, Oskaloosa High School choirs, and as a soloist he sang with the Oskaloosa Symphony Orchestra. He studied piano with Cynthia Zimmerman and Carolyn Tschetter, and sang under the guidance of Judy Bishop and Chris Weinreich. He and his siblings even occasionally sang at St. Paul in the summers.
Tim completed a music major at Creighton University in 2012 (voice primary concentration, organ secondary concentration), where he sang in the Chamber Choir under Dr. Barron Breland, studied voice with Diane Owens, and studied organ with Dr. Marie Rubis Bauer, Cathedral Organist at St. Cecilia in Omaha. He went on to complete a Master's and PhD in Spanish at Vanderbilt University, where he wrote his dissertation investigating the representation of music in the literature of 16th- and 17th-century Spain (now a book, Music and Power in Early Modern Spain: Harmonic Spheres of Influence, Routledge, 2022). While in Nashville he sang in the Chancel Choir at West End United Methodist Church and in the Portara Ensemble. After a brief stint as college professor in Texas, in 2021 Tim returned home and now teaches Spanish at Oskaloosa High School. Tim is excited about the chance to practice sacred music in his hometown and to develop opportunities for fostering a love of language, culture, and music in the next generation of Oskaloosa youth. |
Michael Philipsen was born and grew up in Des Moines, attended Simpson College where he earned his Bachelor of Music in piano performance, and then received his Master of Music in piano performance at the University of Missouri where he studied under the concert pianist Santiago Rodriguez. Philipsen has been the choral director (and also professor of music theory, piano, and voice) at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa for 27 years retiring in 2012. He has performed as a vocalist and a pianist throughout the years, and most recently performed as piano soloist on Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra.
From the time he was in high school, he has played for numerous churches and estimates that he has played the Doxology more than 3,000 times. He has directed church choirs and most recently had served as director of Music at First United Methodist Church and Grace UMC in Ottumwa. Michael has also composed music for piano, voice, and chorus and is hoping to have more time in his retirement to continue working along this line. Several of his choral works have been performed by college, high school, and church choirs, and one of his works, “April Is in My Mistress’ Face” was one of six national finalists selected for Ithaca College’s annual Choral Composition Contest. Since 1993 he has also maintained the practice of writing a new song for Christmas, which he and Marva use for their annual Christmas card. |
"No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you're welcome HERE."
Contact Us.
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phone |
641.673.7206
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address |
501 High Ave East
Oskaloosa, IA 52577 |
