Music Program
˝The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.˝
– J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
The choral program at Christ Church is a celebrated expression of prayer and thanksgiving within our parish. The adult choir provides magnificent music for the 10 a.m. Eucharist and during special church events throughout the year. Students in grade four and above may become a chorister in the youth choir, which sings for special festivals and feasts during the year. Choristers also study elements of music theory, singing posture, tone production, and proper participation in liturgical worship.
˝He who sings prays twice˝
– Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD)
Mr. John Lyden, Bass Choral Scholar
Mr. John Lyden, bass-baritone, has been performing for over thirty years in choral, opera and sacred settings. As a boy soprano, he sang with the childrens’ choir of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra under Michael Lankester, and later graduated from Rowan University, studying under Ms. Marian Stieber and Dr. Eugene Thamon Simpson. He has performed at Carnegie Hall under the baton of both John Rutter and Jonathan Wilcox. John has been featured as a soloist at First Presbyterian Church in Germantown with the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra, St. Mary of the Assumption (Hockessin, DE), First UMC (Collingswood, NJ) and with the Cumberland County College Choir. He has been a choral scholar at First Presbyterian Germantown, St. Andrew’s Bridgeton and St. John’s Salem as well as a soloist at St. Stephen’s Lutheran (Woodbury, NJ). His opera roles include Papageno in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Wilfred in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Yeomen of the Guard, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro and Frank in Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus.
When not singing, John is the Manager of Network Infrastructure at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. A resident of Williamstown, he and his wife Aimee are proud parents of four: Michael, Joseph, Cecilia and John.
Mr. Shaun Holland, Tenor Choral Scholar
Mr. Shaun Holland is entering his 3rd year as the tenor choral scholar at Christ Church. Previously he served as the tenor section leader at All Saints Church in Princeton, NJ for 7 years. He has performed extensively with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and the Royal Concertgeboiw Orchestra. In addition to his singing accomplishments, Shaun has extensive experience as a music educator having instructed students at every age level in both public school, private school, and individual settings. Shaun holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Westminster Choir College, and a Master’s Degree from Rowan University. Currently Shaun works at Rowan University as the Instructional Design Coordinator for Rowan Online, and as an adjunct professor in Rowan University’s esports program.
Mrs. Erika Holland, Soprano Choral Scholar
Mrs. Erika Holland joined Christ Church as the soprano choral scholar in the fall of 2017. Prior to joining Christ Church, she served as a soprano section leader for 4 years at Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbus, GA, and as a soprano section leader at Grace Church in Newark, NJ for 5 years. She has sung with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Westminster Choir, Westminster Symphonic Choir, and as a core singer with the Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia. In addition to her accomplishments as a singer, Mrs. Holland has over 10 years of experience teaching children from infant through high school ages, including group music classes and private voice and piano lessons. She received her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Columbus State University and a Master of Music in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College. Mrs. Holland is currently a preschool teacher, as well as a mother of two children, and teaches private voice and piano lessons.
Ms. Darrah Maffettone, Alto Choral Scholar
Ms. Darrah Maffettone has been a music educator since 2016, and currently teaches general music for Kindergarten and 1st grade at Central Early Childhood Center in Deptford. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Rowan University, where she received a scholarship to study voice with Marian Stieber. Darrah is the alto choral scholar at Christ Church Woodbury, a member of NAfME and FAME, and holds a certification in First Steps in Music.
