The Cathedral Choir
“He who sings prays twice” – St. Augustine
Music at CHCC offers exceptionally beautiful choral, instrumental and organ sacred musical traditions of the Anglican Church for everyone. Our music ministry is integral to our worship and liturgy. The Cathedral Choir of Church of the Holy Communion Anglican Cathedral explores and performs in the rich Anglican choral tradition and the principles of the Royal School of Church Music. A core string quartet, made up of members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra adds warmth and depth to the worship and music experience performing works by Handel to Rutter.
Our ministry assists the clergy and parish during liturgical worship on Sunday mornings, Feast days and special services throughout the year. The Feast of Nine Lessons and Carols is celebrated each year on or after the Fourth Sunday of Advent. This service has become a favorite for many outside our church community giving them an opportunity to celebrate the Christmas season through the Bible, choral anthems and beloved carols. Two female professional section leaders assist the all-volunteer ensemble throughout the liturgical calendar.
Our ministry assists the clergy and parish during liturgical worship on Sunday mornings, Feast days and special services throughout the year. The Feast of Nine Lessons and Carols is celebrated each year on or after the Fourth Sunday of Advent. This service has become a favorite for many outside our church community giving them an opportunity to celebrate the Christmas season through the Bible, choral anthems and beloved carols. Two female professional section leaders assist the all-volunteer ensemble throughout the liturgical calendar.
Candace Bawcombe, Music Director & Organist
Candace Ann Bawcombe was appointed Music Director and Organist in July 2018. She works closely with Bishop R. Ray Sutton and Bishop Charles Camlin to plan and execute Parish and Cathedral liturgies. She has given lectures on hymnody and Anglican chant presenting these at the Anglican Way Institute, Dallas, the Fort Worth Diocese, and various churches in North Texas.
Ms. Bawcombe, a child prodigy, began studying with concert pianist Lili Kraus by age eleven at Texas Christian University. Her years of study with Kraus, her piano technique, and understanding of musical phrasing, analysis and performance had served her throughout her career as a recitalist, choral director, chamber musician, concerto soloist and continuo player. She holds degrees in Piano Performance from Texas Christian University and The Juilliard School, New York studying with concert pianists, Abby Simon and revered pedagogue, Herbert Stessin. She also studied continuo and harpsichord while performing violin and piano sonatas on three continents collaborating with fellow Juilliard alumni. Her organ studies with Dr. Barbara Marquardt, and Frederick Grimes began as she decided to widen her career as an organist and choirmaster in the Episcopal Church. Prior to joining the Church of the Holy Communion Anglican Cathedral staff, Candace served as Organist/Choirmaster/Music Director at St. Vincent's Anglican Cathedral, Bedford, St. Andrew's Parish Church, Fort Worth, and St. Laurence Anglican Church in Southlake. She spent a year assisting Frederick Grimes at All Saints' Episcopal in Fort Worth. She and Grimes have collaborated in Solemn Choral Evensongs, Diocesan events in Dallas and Fort Worth, organ recitals throughout Texas, ordinations, consecrations, and many other special events.
Candace has performed on five continents as recitalist, concerto soloist, chamber musician and led her choir during a residency at Wells Cathedral, Wells, England. She is a former Dean of the Fort Worth Chapter of the American Guild of Organists where she collaborated with Dallas AGO to bring the debut of "Pipedreams" to the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, TX. She is a cradle Episcopalian.
Ms. Bawcombe, a child prodigy, began studying with concert pianist Lili Kraus by age eleven at Texas Christian University. Her years of study with Kraus, her piano technique, and understanding of musical phrasing, analysis and performance had served her throughout her career as a recitalist, choral director, chamber musician, concerto soloist and continuo player. She holds degrees in Piano Performance from Texas Christian University and The Juilliard School, New York studying with concert pianists, Abby Simon and revered pedagogue, Herbert Stessin. She also studied continuo and harpsichord while performing violin and piano sonatas on three continents collaborating with fellow Juilliard alumni. Her organ studies with Dr. Barbara Marquardt, and Frederick Grimes began as she decided to widen her career as an organist and choirmaster in the Episcopal Church. Prior to joining the Church of the Holy Communion Anglican Cathedral staff, Candace served as Organist/Choirmaster/Music Director at St. Vincent's Anglican Cathedral, Bedford, St. Andrew's Parish Church, Fort Worth, and St. Laurence Anglican Church in Southlake. She spent a year assisting Frederick Grimes at All Saints' Episcopal in Fort Worth. She and Grimes have collaborated in Solemn Choral Evensongs, Diocesan events in Dallas and Fort Worth, organ recitals throughout Texas, ordinations, consecrations, and many other special events.
Candace has performed on five continents as recitalist, concerto soloist, chamber musician and led her choir during a residency at Wells Cathedral, Wells, England. She is a former Dean of the Fort Worth Chapter of the American Guild of Organists where she collaborated with Dallas AGO to bring the debut of "Pipedreams" to the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, TX. She is a cradle Episcopalian.
Our Organ
With more than 1,100 pipes distributed among 19 ranks, the CHCC pipe organ is an instrument which magnifies the worship of God. The organ’s design evolved through consultations between the CHCC Organ Committee and Dan Garland. The craftsmen at Garland Pipe Organs, Inc. played an integral role in the construction, installation, voicing, and tuning of the instrument. The organ draws inspiration from the English and American traditions of organ building, which emphasize the instrument’s role in enhancing congregational singing and choral accompaniment.
Three manual keyboards and pedal keyboard mounted in a moveable console of oak and walnut control the instrument, which consists of four divisions (Great, Swell, Choir, and Pedal). The organ’s pipework is mounted above and behind the choir loft in a separate temperature/humidity-controlled chamber, with the facade consisting of gold-covered Principal pipes from the Pedal division of the organ.
A particular advantage of the organ is that its creators were also consulted in the design of the new sanctuary; thus, the organ and the worship space have been molded to one another in a unique symbiosis. For instance, the organ chamber was designed to accommodate the addition of new ranks in the future. Even more fortuitously, the organ builder’s involvement in the design of the space has allowed for tailoring the organ to the acoustics of the church. As a consequence, the organ speaks in the space with boldness and clarity and is sure to ornament the worship of God in this church for generations to come.
Three manual keyboards and pedal keyboard mounted in a moveable console of oak and walnut control the instrument, which consists of four divisions (Great, Swell, Choir, and Pedal). The organ’s pipework is mounted above and behind the choir loft in a separate temperature/humidity-controlled chamber, with the facade consisting of gold-covered Principal pipes from the Pedal division of the organ.
A particular advantage of the organ is that its creators were also consulted in the design of the new sanctuary; thus, the organ and the worship space have been molded to one another in a unique symbiosis. For instance, the organ chamber was designed to accommodate the addition of new ranks in the future. Even more fortuitously, the organ builder’s involvement in the design of the space has allowed for tailoring the organ to the acoustics of the church. As a consequence, the organ speaks in the space with boldness and clarity and is sure to ornament the worship of God in this church for generations to come.
