St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church

Music supports congregational worship. It helps people contemplate, pray and encourage the soul through singing.

St. Bartholomew's is an eclectic congregation made up of people from many different cultures. While our Choral Eucharist traditionally relies on the organ, we also sing gospel, classics from oratorio and many other styles of music. We sometimes have a jazz trio or a dixieland band accompanying the choir and enlivening the Mass at various celebrations during the church year.

The choir of St. Bart's is made up of professionals and volunteers. No prior musical experience is necessary to join. We welcome all newcomers. All you need is a desire to worship God in song and, in doing so through the beauty of music, you will aid your fellow brother and sister in Christ in their worship.

This year we will begin a Sunday afternoon series of concerts that will feature many jazz musicians from the area. Each performer is accomplished on his or her instrument and the performances are not to be missed!

RITA MATHSEN, mezzo-soprano, is the music director at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in White Plains. She has always been a singer, beginning at the age of eight. She sang everywhere and for everyone: for the local Rotary Club, area churches and weddings; and she sang everything: country-western, cabaret, Broadway, and standards.

Upon graduation from the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia in 1983, Ms. Mathsen won first prize in three major vocal competitions: the Giargiari Italian Opera Competition, the Bel Canto Opera Competition and the Baltimore International Vocal Competition. Later that year she was also a National Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions. She received grants from the Metropolitan Opera Foundation and the Sullivan Foundation, which she used to continue her vocal studies in Italy with Carlo Bergonzi, Renata Tebaldi, and Ettore Campogalliani.

Rita Mathsen’s performance credits include the San Francisco Opera, Dallas Opera, Virginia Opera ( with Renee Fleming), Opera Company of Philadelphia, Delaware Opera, Opera Orchestra of New York (with Carlo Bergonzi and Aprile Millo), New York City Opera touring company, Western Opera National Tour (with RuthAnn Swenson & Dolora Zajick). Other performances include the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Casals Festival in Puerto Rico, and the Corfu Festival in Greece. She continues to sing in the Metropolitan area with local groups ranging from concert operas and Broadway revues to church music. She is the head of the voice department at the Music School of Westchester in Mamaroneck and also has a private voice studio in White Plains.