San Jose places great importance on exploring a broad array of music styles within the framework of our traditional liturgy. Our repertoire features works written hundreds of years ago, as well as pieces written and arranged today. Music for worship is provided by our parish Director of Music, who serves as organist and pianist and directs the various musical ensembles described here. Guest musicians are also featured from time to time, and have included vocalists, string quartets, festive brass, and even talented woodwind players from our own parish.
Chancel Choir
The San Jose Episcopal Chancel Choir is made up of vocalists from all walks of life and from many different musical backgrounds. Our chancel choir is the most integral ensemble in our music program and is open to everyone from high school through adulthood. Singing in a choir provides many spiritual, physical, and mental health benefits!
The Chancel Choir is supplemented by our paid choral scholar program which offers academic and early-career artists the opportunity to put their skills to use by singing with the Chancel Choir and providing vocal solos for worship several times per semester.
San Jose Handbell Ringers
The San Jose Handbell Ringers provide additional musical support to our worship several times a year. Participating in this ensemble is a fun musical opportunity for parishioners of all backgrounds and musical exposure. No prior experience is necessary to join, only a willingness to learn and a desire to worship the Lord through music.
King David’s Chorus
King David’s Chorus is an ensemble of young singers in grades K-6 from the San Jose Episcopal community. Singers gain an understanding of proper vocal function, music literacy, and teamwork. Vocal instruction is modeled after the Royal School of Church Music’s Voice for Life curriculum.
For more information about joining any of these ensembles, please contact the Director of Music.
Director of Music
Brandon Michael Smith has performed across the country as a conductor, keyboardist, and vocalist. He is the Director of Music at San Jose Episcopal Church and serves on the Executive Board of the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Outside of his busy music ministry, he was recently Music Director for Mamma Mia! at Cape Fear Regional Theare, Keyboardist for the Wicked National Tour, and Conductor of HMS Pinafore with First Coast Opera.
Born and raised in Northeast Florida, he first trained as a vocalist with emphases in opera and musical theatre, before moving into collaborative piano and organ studies. He received a B.A. in Music from Jacksonville University with emphases in Music Education and Choral Studies, and also holds a M.M. in Conducting from Ithaca College with emphases in Musical Theatre, Opera, and Choral Music. He has taught at Florida State College of Jacksonville, Ithaca College, Jacksonville University, and has been sought after by several academic music programs as vocal coach and choral clinician. Prior to returning to Jacksonville, FL in 2018, he held a multi-year residency at The Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, NY.
NYC: Pagliacci (Assoc. Conductor/Chorus Master/Pianist). National Tour: Wicked (Keyboard4). Regional: HMS Pinafore with First Coast Opera (Conductor), Mamma Mia! with Cape Fear Regional Theatre (Music Director), Pagliacci with Opera Ithaca (Assoc. Conductor/Chorus Master/Pianist); Xanadu (Music Director), Pride and Prejudice (MD), Chicago (Assoc. MD), A Christmas Carol (MD/Arranger/Pianist), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Assoc. MD) and In The Heights at the Hangar Theatre (Assoc. MD).