Here at Heavenly Rest, music centers around worship life, music education, and creative partnerships. Our choirs of all ages sing for weekly services, and we celebrate our core traditions with music including Lessons and Carols, the neighborhood Christmas Pageant, Holy Week and Easter. We honor our Anglican heritage, while bringing excellence in a variety of styles from jazz to new music featuring guest artists and composers. Our instrument collection includes an 8000-pipe Austin Organ, Steinway pianos and handbells. Whether you love to sing or are looking for family-friendly activities and concerts, we have a program for you!
CHR Adult Choir
The Choir of Church of the Heavenly Rest brings together 35 volunteer singers and talented section leaders in a welcoming and dedicated community. The CHR Choir leads music for the Sunday 11am Eucharist and seasonal liturgies. Highlights include singing the Fauré Requiem, the 2023 World Premiere of a new Psalm Cycle, and a jazz service hosting The 27th Bishop Michael Curry with Theodicy Jazz Collective. Rehearsals take place on Sunday morning and afternoon from September through May. If you have past experience singing in a choir, have a blending voice, and can read music easily, we’d love to hear from you!
Children, Youth and Families
Does your child love music? We offer free choral and music education programs for young people ages 4-18 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays during the school year. All of our activities are open to the neighborhood and community, and we would love for your family to join us! Learn more below:
Saints Music Class (age 4-grade K): On Wednesday afternoons from September through May, children ages 4-grade K learn music basics through joyful singing, arts, and games. This Saints class is led by Lydia Saylor and teaching artists. These children participate in the Wednesday evening Family Service at 5pm and special Sunday mornings, and prepare to join the Junior Choristers.
Training and Junior Choristers (grades 1-5): During the school year, each Wednesday from September through May, Training and Junior Choristers learn fundamentals of choral singing, music theory, and team-building skills. These classes are led by Director of Music Janet Yieh, with church music teachers. The Choristers sing music from the Anglican Choral tradition and other diverse styles for the 11:00 am Sunday Eucharist at Heavenly Rest, on the First Sunday of each month. They also lead music for weekly services during our Wednesday Family Afternoon.
Middle and High School Senior Choristers (grades 6-12): Our newest class meets each Thursday evening from September through May. Middle and High School Senior Choristers are challenged and inspired to build their choral singing, music theory, sight reading, and leadership skills. They are invited to sing for services and featured alongside the Adult Choir for special occasions including Christmas and Easter. This group works with Director of Music Janet Yieh and church music teachers. 2026 Spring highlights include joining the Diocesan Cathedral Chorister Day, hosting a Youth Jazz Festival, and learning to sing chants from Taizé.
We would love for any child 4-18 interested in singing to make a weekly rehearsal and monthly church service commitment at Heavenly Rest. All new 1st-12th grade choristers are invited to a Singing Placement meeting. Enrollment closes on January 1st for the Spring and September 1st for the Fall. Register with this form.
Additional Seasonal Music Activities
August Choir Camp
Does your child love to sing? Our annual music and arts program for rising 3rd-9th graders features singing classes, arts activities, musical guests, local field trips, and outdoor fun and games! The camp runs Monday-Friday in the first week of August. All neighbors and friends welcome.
Handbells:
Our handbell choir group includes those of all levels of experience who enjoy playing as part of an ensemble in sacred settings, and occasionally outdoors! We perform for special occasions, such as Christmas and Easter, with a rehearsal or two prior to the event. We welcome new members; necessary skills are a sense of rhythm and basic ability to read music notation.
Concerts with a Cause:
Church of the Heavenly Rest presents exciting Concerts with a Cause, featuring classical, choral, jazz and Broadway musicians. Each seasonal performance benefits one of our partner organizations here in New York City.
Meet Our Music Team
Director of Music and Organist:
Janet Yieh
Director of Music Janet Yieh leads our vibrant music program for all ages here at Heavenly Rest. An innovative concert recitalist and sacred music specialist, Janet has been lauded for her “expressivity and technical prowess” (The American Organist). She has performed throughout the United States and across the globe, highlights include: New York’s Alice Tully Hall, Washington’s National Cathedral, San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, Yale University’s Woolsey Hall, Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, and Malaysia; collaboration with the Paul Winter Consort, NOVUS NY orchestra at Carnegie Hall; the national radio show Pipedreams, WQXR-FM and two CD recordings.
In 2020, Janet co-founded a new platform ‘Amplify Female Composers’ with Carolyn Craig, and she contributes research to an international sacred music database called “A Great Host of Women Composers.” She has taught on the faculty for summer Pipe Organ Encounter programs and played as staff organist for RSCM America courses. She is an executive board member of the New York City American Guild of Organists and a member of the Association of Anglican Musicians. A Taiwanese-American native of Alexandria, Virginia, Janet holds degrees from the Yale School of Music, Yale Institute of Sacred Music, and The Juilliard School. She previously served at Trinity Church Wall Street, Christ Church, New Haven and Trinity Church on the Green, and directed music for Yale-Berkeley Divinity School. www.janetyieh.com
Chorister Assistant: Theresa Johnson
Having grown up as a chorister, Theresa has been singing in the Episcopal church for fourteen years. Prior to graduate studies she served as the Assistant Director to the Children's Choir and soprano section leader at St. Mark's Cathedral in Shreveport, Louisiana from 2021-2024. During her time at St. Mark's the chorister program doubled in size and expanded into new age ranges now including choristers from ages 3-14. Theresa received her Master’s from NYU Steinhardt studying performing arts administration with a concentration in finance. Additionally, she holds a B.A. in Theatre and French and a B.S. in Accounting from Centenary College of Louisiana.
Interested in making music? Reach out to Director of Music Janet Yieh at
jyieh@heavenlyrest.org or (212) 289-3400 Ext. 204