Music Director Ralph Hooper is an inspiring and gifted musician, organist, and composer who leads the ever-expanding choir in music that fills the sanctuary each Sunday. Works range from well known hymns to Taize chants, from gospel to classic choral pieces, from secular pieces to original compositions of his own. For many of the hymns, you’ll hear a soprano descant line written by Ralph soaring above the congregational voices. Prelude and postlude organ music is often thrilling. In addition, Don Koc spins CD’s at certain points during our service, bringing us the sounds of bluegrass, folk, and contemporary songs. 
And on Superbowl Sunday, he usually sends us out the door with a rousing rendition of Drop Kick Me Jesus Through the Goal Posts of Life!
Our choir and organ might be augmented with guitar, sax, banjo, trumpet, harp, and an occasional visiting choir. And during the holidays, other musical gifts appear, including a moving candlelight Thanksgiving Vespers service, followed by a pre-Thanksgiving feast, and a sparkling Christmas Vespers concert by the SPC choir for the whole community.
On special occasions, you might hear the sometime-vocal group The Fallen Angels, led by Don Koc on guitar, perform a bluegrass-gospel or other (sometimes humorous) piece. Or you might hear some old-time favorites with banjo and washboard accompaniment. Some of our special concerts have included performances by the Dry Branch Fire Squad, a nationally known bluegrass group, and Slavyanka, a San Francisco-based Russian men’s chorus.
The SPC choir welcomes and encourages all who are interested to join, no experience required.
Ralph is also active in our wedding ministry, having provided music for over 1,000 weddings, offering the bridal party a wide variety of classical organ works as well as theatrical and film music.
More Music in Weddings . . .
