Music at Grace Cathedral
Music is inextricably woven into the liturgy at Grace Cathedral. The Choir is heard at the 11:00 am Sunday Eucharist and at the 5:15 pm Thursday Evensong. On major feast days brass and timpani or full orchestra augments the Alexander Memorial Organ.
Choir of Men & Boys
Grace Cathedral has had a men's choir since its founding as an institution in 1906, and boy's voices were added in 1913. The centuries-old Anglican tradition of a men and boys choir has since blossomed here, as one of a handful of such choirs in the United States. Currently, The
Grace Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys is comprised of 12 choirmen and 24 choristers. The boys of the Choir are students at the Cathedral School for Boys. The men of the Choir are a professional ensemble. The weekly choir rehearsal on Sunday mornings at 10:15 am is held in the Quire and is open to all visitors in the Cathedral.
Cathedral Camerata
The Cathedral Camerata is a mixed-voice ensemble that sings a diverse repertoire of chant, Renaissance and Baroque motets, Anglican anthems and newly composed sacred works. The group offers an excellent opportunity to serve in a vitally important ministry to the community. Cathedral membership is not required. Camerata rehearses on Wednesday evenings and sings twice monthly at Sunday Choral Evensong, Sunday morning Eucharist, and at festivals. Singers must have choral experience, read music, and commit to regular rehearsals. For more information about this choir, or to arrange an audition, please contact Ben Bachmann at or (415)749-6334.
Cathedral Organ
The Cathedral's organ, given by Harriet Crocker Alexander in memory of her husband Charles B. Alexander, was built by the Æolian-Skinner Company in 1934, with minor alterations in 1952, and additions in 1974 by Casavant Frères. Its some 7,466 pipes make it one of the largest organs in the Western United States and its beauty one of the finest American Classic organs in the world. Visit the Grace Cathedral Organ/Acoustics Project page to learn about our project to improve the acoustics and enhance the organ at Grace Cathedral. For more information, contact Development at or (415)749-6341.
Visiting Choirs
Due to a significant refurbishment of the pipe organ and Quire area, July 2010 – January 2011, the Sing for Pleasure program is on hiatus until early 2011.
Our program called Sing for Pleasure offers choral groups a spot on the cathedral calendar to sing for 30 minutes, scheduled in advance Mondays through Wednesdays from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, as the cathedral calendar allows. The selections must be unaccompanied. Visiting choirs may submit a recent recording to be considered for a pre-service program before the 11:00 am Choral Eucharist on Sunday mornings or to sing as the liturgical choir in one of our weekly liturgies. For more information, please contact Susan Hendrickson at or (415) 749-6332.