Music at St. Peter’s

Music Raises Spirits

Tony B. Romeo, Director of Music

Tony B. Romeo is a native of Springfield, MA. He earned his B.A. in Music and Computer Information Technology, and M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Tony currently works as a speech-language pathologist with the Pawtucket School Department. Prior to coming to St. Peter's, Tony enjoyed long tenures as Music Director and Organist at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Springfield, MA, and Saint Adalbert Church in Enfield, CT, where he also taught music to grades K-8 at the parish school. Most recently, he served as Director of Music and Organist at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Wakefield.
Tony has extensive teaching and directing experience. He has led college and community choirs and has music directed for many theaters throughout Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. During his last semester of graduate school, he led the Aphasia chorus in the Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic at the College of Saint Rose in Albany. As a speech-language pathologist, Tony hopes to specialize in voice disorders and accent modification. As Music Director for Saint Peter's, he hopes to further build and expand the already wonderful music ministry.

He may be reached at tony@stpetersbythesea.com

Music & Choir

Each week, the choir of St. Peter's gathers in the sanctuary to both support the congregation’s song and enhance the church’s worship by offering anthems representative of myriad sacred genres including:  traditional hymnody, sacred psalms, contemporary choral compositions, and spirituals. 

The ensemble rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 – 8:45, and again on Sunday mornings from 9:00 – 10:00.  In addition to rehearsing the music, the group also learns about music theory, sight singing, healthy tone production, and blending. 

We are always looking for additional singers to augment our ranks.  No prior choral experience is necessary.  The only requirements are the ability to match pitch (which can be assessed quickly) and a love of singing and sacred music.   If you are interested in joining or have any questions, please contact Tony Romeo at tony@stpetersbythesea.com

Organ and Organ Chimes

The original organ at St. Peter’s was an Estey manual, single keyboard organ.  In 1879, the church purchased a much larger, Hook & Hastings two-manual mechanical-action organ.  It was dedicated to the memory of Sarah Campbell Lapsley.  In 1910, the old action was replaced by the Austen pneumatic system with leather bellows.  By 1990, the pneumatics were showing serious failure, and the vestry selected the DeLisle Pipe Organ Company of Fall River, MA to rebuild the organ.  A major effort raised $100,000 to complete the extensive renovation which included dismantling and removing the organ, building the chests on which the pipes sit, installing an electronic action, returning and revoicing all 800 pipes, and rebuilding and repositioning an antique console.  The work, begun in 1996, was completed by Palm Sunday 1998 when the renovated organ was used for the first time.  The brass organ chimes were given by Natalie (Wood) and Wells Andrew Daniels in memory of Mrs. Elizabeth (Brown) Wood. 

Concerts

St. Peter’s hosts a number of community concerts each year.    In some cases, a portion of the proceeds benefit the Community Market.  Some of the annual concerts include:

Musica Dolce Concert

Musica Dolce exists to promote the education and appreciation of classical chamber music and to provide support for local musicians through the provision of performance venues.  They achieve this through a series of chamber ensemble concerts across Southern New England.  St. Peter’s annually provides the venue for a performance in Narragansett.

Perspectives Concert

Perspectives (aka. The LaPlante Center) helps people with developmental disabilities participate and contribute to community life.  They strive to help individuals with the necessary skills and support to enable them to realize their personal goals of becoming effective members of their community and to fully enjoy life.  St. Peter’s has hosted the annual Christmas Concert for many years.  It is a beloved tradition, as you have never heard Christmas carols sung with such joy and heart.

Narragansett Bay Symphony Community Orchestra

Narragansett Bay Symphony Community Orchestra strives to share live classical music with our communities at little or no cost, to promote music education, enrich the cultural life of our region, and to provide the opportunity for participants to continue a lifelong study of music.  St. Peter’s hosts the Narragansett Bay Symphony Community Orchestra concerts in Narragansett.