Music at Trinity

Traditional music is an integral part of life at Trinity, with instrumental and choral music playing an important role in worship services. The music of our Sunday liturgies is intended to invite us into God's presence and help us to achieve a moving and profound experience with God. Music at Trinity is intended for our faith community, but also reaches out to the neighboring city and diocese, not only through our liturgies, but also through concerts and other special offerings, and by providing rehearsal space for music groups.

Martin Olson, Music Director

Organist and Choirmaster, Martin Olson, has been at Trinity since 1983. He was born in Vancouver, B.C. and received his Bachelor of Music from the University of British Columbia. Martin came to Seattle in 1977 to attend Graduate School at the University of Washington. While there, he received not only an excellent musical education and a Master of Music degree, but also the opportunity to meet his wife, Phyllis, in the Organ Performance Class.

Before coming to Trinity, Martin held the position of organist first at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver, then at Pilgrim Congregational Church and Temple de Hirsch in Seattle. Since October 2005, he has served as the Chair of Professional Development for the Seattle Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Martin is also an active piano teacher, which gives him a great opportunity to work with children.

Jo Baim, Assistant Organist

Jo Baim has been Assistant Organist at Trinity Parish for almost 10 years. A native of Eastern Washington, Jo did her undergraduate work in music at Walla Walla College, followed by a Master's Degree in Organ Performance from the University of Oregon, and a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music, as well as two years' graduate study at the University of Glasgow. Jo is the director of The Trinity Consort, the Concert Administrator, and a founder of Trinity's Animal Ministries program. Outside Trinity, Jo is an Oblate of the Benedictine Monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood, Idaho.

Choir

Since 1865, Trinity has had an excellent choir, combining professional singers with skilled volunteers, with ages ranging from 13 to 80+. The Trinity Choir enjoys a particularly intense opportunity to experience the glory of God in rehearsals and liturgies. Yet another great advantage to the music program at Trinity are the bonds of friendship that result from people working together.

The Trinity Choir sings at the 10:30 A.M. Eucharist with a repertoire that ranges from Heinrich Schütz to the most recent choral works. Singers interested in joining The Trinity Choir may contact Martin Olson at (206) 624-5337 or by e-mail .

Martin will respond to prospective choristers to chat about the Choir and to get a feeling for the singer's musical experience and ability. He will then schedule a time for an audition, so he can hear the prospective choir member. This is usually a pretty pleasant experience, even though it might sound scary!

Hand Bell Ringers

Trinity Parish has a virtually complete set of Flemish style hand bells made by Petit & Fritsen. The hand bell group plays Christmas Eve and Easter, and several other times during the year, either by themselves or accompanying the Choir. The group rehearses on Thursday evenings at 6:30-7:25 P.M., occasionally staying later to practice with the Choir at 7:30 P.M.

The Hand Bell Ringers group is always looking for new members. If you have some experience with reading music, the director would love to hear from you. Contact him at (206) 624-5337, or by e-mail.

The All Souls Memorial Organ

Trinity's organ is a successful combination of pipes from 1902 through 2006: pipe work from the original Kimball organ in 1902, additions in the 1940s, new pipes from the 1978 project, a few from the major rebuild in 1987, as well as work in 1996 and 2006. While the basic design of the organ can be termed neo-classic, the dynamic capabilities span the complete range from very soft to very loud! The façade pays tribute to the original Kimball design while incorporating contemporary touches such as polished pipe metal (Kimball pipes were painted gold), variable foot lengths of the pipes (Kimball pipes had the same lengths), and wooden columns to help soften the overall visual impact (the Kimball design had outside columns only). The original façade was merely ornamental: the pipes did not "speak," while the current organ uses all the displayed pipes. While the tonal design of this instrument is part of the signature of this Marceau organ (by Rene Marceau of Marceau & Associates), it pays tribute to its American organ-building predecessors in almost every aspect of the organ's sounds.

Resident Groups

Trinity is happy to provide rehearsal space for musical groups who would like to participate, on occasion, in our worship services or perform concerts at Trinity. If your group is interested, please email Dr. Jo Baim, Assistant Organist. Currently, we have the Sacred Music Chorale, The Renaissance Singers, and the New Baroque Orchestra as artists-in-residence.