HYMN FESTIVAL
St. Paul's on the Green Episcopal Church, 60 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT, 5:00pm October 18, 2025
Join the choirs and congregations of seven regional churches in this celebration of hymnody! No registration necessary for the festival (just for the study)!
Parking is in the lot next to St. Paul's at 60 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT, with the entrance off St. Paul's Place. Side streets have parking, on Park St., St. Paul's Place and all side streets.
HYMN STUDY
LEARN ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE HYMNS!
Online Hymn Study: 7:00 p.m. Eastern, Mondays of September 22 and 29; October 6 and 13.
Join members of participating churches* in an ONLINE hymn study the four weeks preceding the Festival. The text, The Church Sings Its Faith by Dr. Robert Mann is FREE to registrants from participating congregations*. Kevin Bailey, Josh Enlebrackt, Simon Lee and Nathan Lively are leaders for these online classes.
September 22 – Introduction to the Hymnal (Ch. 1 & 2): Josh Ehlebracht (St. Paul’s, Norwalk) and Kevin Bailey (First Presbyterian, Stamford)
Joshua Ehlebracht holds a master’s degree in Sacred Music from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music in the studio of Prof. Martin Jean. Joshua’s previous studies include a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance from the Eastman School of music, as well as a Colleague diploma from the Royal Canadian College of Organists. Recently married at St. Paul's, Josh and his wife Sarah (also an accomplished church organist!) live between their 2 churches.
Kevin Bailey is the Minister of Music at First Presbyterian Church, Stamford, where he is organist and choir director, and has re-booted the handbell choir. He is a graduate of Augustana College (IL) and Indiana University, and is an alum of Westminster Choir College’s summer conducting institute. He has achieved the Associate level of certification in the American Guild of Organists, and is a member of the Greater Bridgeport and Fairfield West chapters. His principal teachers for organ have been Tom Robin Harris and Christopher Young, and he studied church music and improvisation with Marilyn Keiser. He has accompanied and conducted choirs at Anderson University (IN) and served as choir director and organist at several churches in Indiana before moving to Milwaukee in 2003, where he was Director of Worship and Music at Fox Point Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, for fifteen years.
September 29 – Reformed Traditions (Ch. 5 & 6): Nathan Lively (St. John’s Lutheran, Stamford)
Nathan is currently Cantor at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Prior to the appointment as Cantor, he was Director of Music. Previous positions include Organist and Choirmaster at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Washington, CT, and Director of Music Ministries and Director of Christian Education at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Kingsport, Tennessee. Nathan is a member of the American Guild of Organists, American Choral Directors Association, and was Vice-President of the Kingsport Music Club. Nathan is a nationally recognized musician. He is an active performer, educator, collaborative artist, and church musician. He was hailed by the Chicago Tribune in 2015 as one of the nation’s leading young organists. Nathan is known for his imaginative programming, revitalization of obscure pieces, and fiery playing.
October 6 – Anglican/Episcopal streams (Ch. 8): Simon Lee (Trinity on the Green, New Haven)
Simon Lee, Director of Music at Trinity on the Green Episcopal Church, New Haven was born into a musical family in the north-west of England. He began his musical career as a chorister at Lancaster Priory. He holds a degree in music performance from Leeds University, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from Durham University and a Masters in Choral Conducting from Yale University where he was a student at the Institute of Sacred Music from 2016 to 2018. He was appointed Director of Music at Trinity on the Green in the Fall of 2024 and oversees the historic choral foundation which includes girl and boy choristers who are supported by an adult choir. Before returning to Connecticut, he was in demand as a conductor across the north-east of England working with choirs at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead, Durham Cathedral and in the city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Simon has been a choral preparer for the BBC’s world-renowned concert series the Proms, including a performance of Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
October 13 – American Hymnody (Ch. 7, 9, 10): Josh Ehlebracht (St. Paul’s, Norwalk)
REGISTRATION INCLUDES ALL FOUR SESSIONS!
Register by September 15 to insure arrival of text by September 22. Registration is open anytime prior and during the class.
*Participating Churches:
Stratford United Methodist Church, Stratford, CT
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fairfield, CT
First Presbyterian Church, Stamford, CT
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Stamford, CT
Trinity on the Green Episcopal, New Haven, CT
First Congregational Church, Darien, CT
St. Paul’s on the Green, Norwalk, CT
