Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church – Worship Services and More

Music is integral to our worship, and important to the traditions at St. Paul’s.

We honor our musical history as we are preparing to commemorate 150 years of our church on the corner of Third Street and Saginaw Street.  We have celebrated music and musicians from the very beginning when we used a flute and cello for our first service at the Tabernacle. From the start, we have used an organ as our primary instrument.  We continue our great musical traditions with artists using the Dalton Memorial Organ for our worship services and concert series.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church has a Chancel Choir, a Gospel Choir, a Handbell Choir, and of course, many opportunities for congregational singing during our Sunday services at 10:00 AM.  In addition, ​St. Paul’s invites artists to perform occasionally at downtown Flint’s monthly Art Walk and at our ‘Music in the Heart of the City’ concert program.

If you are interested in joining any of our choirs, please email us, give us a call Tuesday-Friday, or stop one of the members of our music staff after service on Sundays during coffee hour!

Music in the Heart of the City

‘Music in the Heart of the City’ is an exciting program that carries on St. Paul’s tradition of excellence in diverse musical offerings .  Our Music Director is Holly Richardson.

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Holly Richardson, Director of Music

Holly Richardson began playing for church at the age of 12 and accompanying Junior Choir.  Earning a BME from the University of Michigan – Flint, and an MA from Marygrove College with additional hours from Vandercook College of Music and Western Michigan University, Holly retired from Flint Community Schools in 2016.  She has been an adjunct professor at Mott Community College since 1996, where she teaches The History of Rock and Roll and Music Appreciation. She is currently the Music Director and Artistic Director at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Flint, Michigan.  She joined New Century Chorale in January 2018 as their collaborative pianist and has also been the collaborative pianist for U of M-Flint, and Mt. Morris Schools and enjoys rug hooking.  Holly is married, has two children, five grandchildren and a little dog, Bella.

Edward Arter, Organist

Edward Arter was a full time member of staff at St. Paul’s from August, 2003 to September, 2011, directing five choirs during this time. Ed then went to Linden Presbyterian Church in Linden, Michigan and for ten years was responsible for the Chancel and Bell choirs. During this time Ed also oversaw the construction of a 20 rank pipe organ with the help of church members under his direction. In 2022, Ed was offered the organist position again at St. Paul’s where he presides today. Ed has sung with Richardo Muti, Kurt Mazzur, Raphael Kubelik, and Joseph Flummerfelt at Avery Fisher Hall, The Academy in Philadelphia, and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.. He has played organ recitals in New Jersey, New York, Missouri, Michigan, Antigua, as well as the Virgin Islands. He considers his most enjoyable work to have been done with children and youth (sometimes presenting musicals!) and with bell choirs, which have traveled nationwide to perform. Ed is married to Julie Arter who is the financial officer of the Michigan 4H Foundation, and they share two children, Raven and Rishaul. Ed is the founder and former Chairman of the Board for CITI-ARTS school specializing in music. He has served Grace University of Omaha as Adjunct Professor of Music, specializing in solo hand bell ringing. In his spare time, Ed likes to build and fly radio controlled helicopters and airplanes.

Rafeal McDaniel-Walker, Gospel Choir Director

Master Rafeal D. McDaniel-Walker holds a Science in Vocal Music from Central Michigan University, a Masters’s degree in Music Education from The University of Michigan, and a Master of Arts in Education and Curriculum from the University of Phoenix. Rafeal’s first musical experience started at the age of 8 in piano lessons, then later in grade school allowing his gifts to flourish; in the choral, drama, and instrumental music programs of Flushing Community Schools. His stage experience includes appearances in the Opera theater workshop at Central Michigan University, Playing Marco in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, and Frank in Strauss’s II Die Fledermaus, as well as singing in several Galas and performances. Master McDaniel-Walker has performed with the Flint Community Players in their productions of Young Frankenstein, as The Hermit and Big River as Jim, Isiah Studervaunt in Leap of Faith, and The Minstrel in Once Upon A Mattress. Rafeal has also been on the stage of Fenton Village Players in productions of The Secret Garden as the Fakir, Shrek as Humpty Dumpty, and sang with the Flint Symphony Orchestra. He has music directed for the Holly High School, and Carman Ainsworth theatre programs and also worked on the production staff at The Flint Community Players, Clio Cast and Crew, Flint Youth Theatre, University of Michigan, Lakeland Players, Fenton Village Players, and the resident musical director for Broadway Bound Theatre Company. McDaniel-Walker is also on the staff of St Paul Episcopal Church music faculty while teaching for over a decade in the public school systems. He is the Director of Choirs and Drama at Lapeer Community Schools. Rafeal is an active member of MSVMA, ACDA, and MMEA. Rafeal loves to spend time with his husband Nathaniel and travel the world.