Story by the Rev. Kira Austin-Young, photos courtesy of Whitney Gough and the Rev. Kira Austin-Young
The Church of St. Mary the Virgin in San Francisco gathered this past Sunday in gratitude and celebration to mark a joyful milestone: the 10-year anniversary of Director of Music Eric Choate.
The celebration unfolded over the course of a full Sunday, reflecting the breadth of Choate’s ministry. In the morning, the congregation paused during announcements to give thanks for his decade of leadership, marked by musical excellence, deep care for the choirs, and a profound commitment to the role of music in drawing praise to God.
That afternoon, the celebration continued with a special Candlelight Concert and reception. The program featured works by Bach and Brahms, offered by St. Mary’s children’s, youth, and parish choirs, an embodiment of the vibrant, multigenerational music program Choate has nurtured over the past 10 years. It also featured two compositions based on the text of “Ave Maria,” composed by Choate and Christine Albrecht, a choir member. At the conclusion of the concert, the St. Mary’s Parish Choir presented Choate with a handcrafted wooden music stand. The concert was part of the ongoing Candlelight Concert series and was offered as a gift to the community, highlighting both the beauty of the repertoire and the strength of the musical life Choate has helped build.
The day was not only a recognition of past accomplishments but also a celebration of relationships among choir members, the congregation, and the wider Bay Area musical community, all of whom have been shaped by Choate’s gifts as a conductor, organist, and teacher.
The parish gives thanks for Choate’s decade of ministry and looks ahead with joy to the music yet to come.
