The Gift of Music
The music program at St. Luke & St. Simon Cyrene is a visible and audible presence of ministry. The program is under the direction of the parish's Director of Music, Dr. Christopher Petit*. Two Saints' YouTube channel showcases some services and music programming.
The Director of Music works with the priest in charge to plan music for the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Liturgy and rehearses with the choirs to lead the congregation in song and worship. The Adult Choir rehearses weekly and sings every Sunday from September until June.
E.M. Skinner built the magnificent three-manual pipe organ at Two Saints in 1925. This instrument is in excellent condition, and continues to lead the parish in its singing to this day. The specification of our fine instrument can be found here.
The Children's Choir often rehearses before the service and performs during the Liturgy of the Table.
The musical traditions of Two Saints reflect the heritage that has come to us from both the old St. Luke's Church and the former Church of St. Simon Cyrene, as well as the mutually formed tradition since the parishes were merged. Drawing from the broad traditions of the Anglican church, the music program of our parish celebrates and utilizes a great deal of diversity: everything from Gregorian chant to Gospel.
We feel strongly that the diversity of our musical tradition provides an element of constancy in our weekly worship. Whether prayerful, contemplative, jubilant or meditative, our choirs and congregation are faithful in the expression of showing God’s Love to us through music and song.
We are pleased during the choir season to have four students sing with us as the Robert O. Moore Choral Scholars. Robert Moore was a long-term member of the Two Saints Choir, and the St. Simon's Choir before that. This program is funded by special contributions from parishioners and others.
Our Music Program is generously supported by the John and Nicky Harmon Fund for Music at Two Saints.
*Two Saints is beginning a search for the next Director of Music. Dr. Petit has taken up a new position.
*
Yvonne Trobe
Soprano
About
Yvonne Trobe is a classically trained soprano who graduated from Eastman School of Music with her Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Literature in 2017. A native to Rochester, NY, Yvonne received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Bachelor of Arts in Theater from the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York at Potsdam in 2015.
Yvonne is an award-winning performer. Her accolades include: Buffalo/Toronto District Winnter of The Metropolitan Opera Competition, Manatee Opera Guild Helen Jepsen Dellera Award for a Deserving Studio Artist and the Daniel R. Mandelker & Marlene N. Harris Award from the Sarasota Opera, Renée Fleming Endowment Scholarship and William and Jocelyn Macy Sloan Scholarship from the Eastman School of Music, The Oliver Dillenbeck Goodrich Memorial Award and Noreen M. Canfield Scholarship from the Crane School of Music, Winner of the National Association of Teachers Singing Student Competition, and Winner of the Classical Singer Competition (Regional). She placed as a semi finalist at the National Classical Singer Competition, a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honors Society, and a Rochester Scholastic Arts Spotlight Recipient.
Ben Magruder
Tenor, Violist
About
Violist Ben Magruder is an active performer, teacher, arranger and producer. Ben plays with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra as well as various local orchestras and chamber groups. Throughout his education, he’s studied with George Taylor, Peter Slowik and Carol Rodland. Ben also has a passion for teaching, having completed an education degree in addition to his performance studies. He regularly conducts, teaches group strings and teaches general music while maintaining a private studio. A born multi-instrumentalist, Ben has never been able to resist a new instrument. He enjoys playing guitar or drums with a rock band as well as singing with a church choir as the tenor section leader. He also loves to cook and helped keep himself afloat through college as a chef at a fine restaurant and private chef. When he gets the chance, Ben likes to play chess and racquetball.
Abigail Hanna
Soprano, Cellist
About
Abby Hanna is currently studying cello with Steven Doane at Eastman School of Music. After receiving a full ride scholarship, she moved to Rochester from Milwaukee WI in August 2021 to pursue a degree in music. She started playing the cello at 8 years old and began taking voice lessons shortly after. Before graduating from Franklin High School she was very involved in the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra as principal cellist of Senior Symphony, and she was a leading actress for First Stage Children's Theater and a part of the nationally recognized pre-professional actors training program; Young Company. Abby has competed and placed in several national and regional vocal competitions such as; Hal Leonard, NATS, Schmidt, Chicagoland, and Civic Music. As an Ecuadorian-American she is the first in her family to pursue a career in music, and is very grateful to her family, friends, and God, for all the love and support.
Jiabao Guo
Bass, Conductor
Jiabao Guo, a choral conductor from Beijing, China, will start his master study at Eastman School of Music. In 2023, Jiabao graduated from Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and received his Bachelor's degree in Music Education. During his five years of university studies, he served as the conductor of the choir at the Music Education Institute, responsible for conducting the choir in daily rehearsals. In addition, he founded the “Crescent a cappella group” in 2018 and served as leader. Aside from being a conductor, Jiabao is also a pianist, he started to learn piano at the age of four, and has won multiple international competition awards. He believes that music is interconnected, and that his piano music experience will help him in the choral field.
In 2020, Jiabao studied Kodály Method at Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary. There, he not only gained rich experience in choral conducting, but also completed his studies with a full A score. After returning to Beijing, Jiabao applied what he had learned and devoted himself to incorporating Kodály Method into choir conducting, and rearranged several choral works.
In recent years, Jiabao participated in a large number of performances, such as the World Choir Concert at Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the Graduation Choir Concert at the Central Conservatory of Music, and 2020 Mid Autumn Festival Choir Concert organized by the Chinese Embassy in Hungary. He believes that Knowledge is infinite, and will continue to devote his greatest passion to choir.
Eleni Nicholas
Soprano
Eleni Nicholas is pursuing a degree in vocal performance at the Eastman School of Music, where she studies under Robert Swensen. As a transfer student to Eastman, Eleni previously attended UNC-Greensboro, where she began her collegiate voice study under Carla LeFevre and Robert Wells. When she visits her hometown in North Carolina, she takes occasional lessons with her high school voice teacher, Elizabeth Linnartz.
Eleni has participated in two vocal competitions, scoring 1st place in the North Carolina Classical NATS Upper High School Division (February 2020) and receiving 3rd place at the Mid-Atlantic Region NATS SingOff Round of First Year Classical Treble Voice (Spring 2021). Eleni is also a pianist, and between 2009-2019 she competed in 5 North Carolina state-wide piano competitions (NCMTA & Young Artist), receiving a Superior rating at each one.
In the Summer of 2023, Eleni made her European voice debut in Arona, Italy. While in Italy, she worked with many prestigious faculty, including Hemdi Kfir, Janet Perry, Chris Merritt, and Elizabeth Norberg-Schultz. After receiving her degree from Eastman, Eleni wishes to further her vocal studies in Italy.
Alix Zanibbi
Alto, Piano
Alix Zanibbi is currently finishing their bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Vocal Performance at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Alix grew up in Rochester surrounded by music at multiple Episcopal churches and studied at the Eastman Community School of Music (ECMS). Alix has won awards from ECMS for piano and composition at as early as age 10 and has won awards for voice, composition, and conducting from their high school. While they did not pursue a music degree, they are passionate about continuing to be a part of church music. Being LGBTQ+ and disabled, they are glad they joined Two Saints where they feel loved. Along with being part of Two Saints, they are a part of RIT Singers and often have solos. They also recently became the piano accompanist for the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Episcopal-Lutheran Campus Ministry.
TJ Dardis
PROFESSIONAL ACTRESS
