Music at St. James’.
Sacred music in the Anglican tradition, offered to the glory of God and the enrichment of our worship.
Sung to the glory of God.
The mission of the music ministry at St. James’ is to support and encourage vibrant congregational singing through enthusiastic example, and to enhance the beauty of our worship by offering sacred music of the highest standard.
Worship at St. James’ is enriched on Sunday mornings by the great hymns, psalms, and songs of the Anglican choral tradition, led from the organ by our Director of Music, Kacey Grieco. Several times a year, the Director of Music gathers a small group of singers for special musical offerings on feast days and high holy days. Anyone who loves to sing is warmly invited to take part in these occasions — simply speak with Kacey after the Sunday service.
St. James’ Church is an affiliate member of the Royal School of Church Music in America (RSCM).
Kacey Grieco
“As far back as I can remember, it was music.”
A New Jersey native, Kacey Grieco serves as Music Director and Organist at St. James’ Episcopal Church, where he leads worship from the organ each Sunday, selects the hymns for our services, and organizes concerts throughout the year. His ministry brings the depth of the Anglican choral tradition to our congregation, and several times a year he gathers a small ensemble of singers for special musical offerings on feast days and high holy days.
Kacey’s love of music began in childhood, first with the alto saxophone in concert and jazz band, then with the piano, which became his passion and instrument of mastery. He trained at the Performing Arts Academy of Red Bank Regional and went on to study at Syracuse University on a full scholarship, where he received extensive training in piano, organ, composition, music theory, pedagogy, and vocal performance. He has studied with distinguished teachers including Marina Strakovsky and Steven Heyman, a pupil of the celebrated Adele Marcus of the Juilliard School.
As a concert pianist, Kacey has had the honor of performing in some of the most revered halls in the world, from Carnegie Hall in New York to Ehrbar Hall in Vienna. Beyond his work at St. James’, he is also a composer and film scorer, working from his private studio. We are blessed to have his gifts in our worship and in the wider musical life of our parish.
“Bless, O Lord, us thy servants, who minister in thy temple. Grant that what we sing with our lips, we may believe in our hearts, and that what we believe in our hearts, we may show forth in our lives.”The Royal School of Church Music
The Organ.
The organ at St. James’ is a three-manual and pedal instrument of approximately 57 stops and 40 ranks, comprising pipework from the builders Miller and Able, Hillgreen-Lane, and Peragallo. It is played from a 1960s-era Austin console, with the pipework housed behind a carved façade in the sanctuary, speaking directly toward the choir stalls.
Tonally, the instrument is most at home in the French Symphonic repertoire, yet it handles a wide range of styles well. With its two expressive divisions, it is an excellent instrument for accompaniment, and it is heard at worship on Sundays and Holy Days, as well as in occasional recitals as part of Music at St. James’.
The story of the instrument.
In progress — more history & interesting facts to be added
The current instrument was tonally redesigned and expanded in the American Classical tradition by the Peragallo Pipe Organ Company of Paterson, New Jersey, during the mid-1990s. The company rebuilt the organ in 1994, reusing pipework from the two previous installations — some of which dates from before 1900.
All of the pipework is located in the east wall of the chancel behind two façades, with the console placed partially beneath. The instrument’s lineage, drawing together the work of Miller and Able, Hillgreen-Lane, and Peragallo across more than a century, makes it a living record of the craft of organ building in America.
We will be adding more to this history, including the stories of its original builders, notable restorations, and a few interesting facts about the pipes that have sung in this sanctuary for generations.
Hear it for yourself.
Join us for worship and experience the music of St. James’ in the place it was made for.