Music

St. Luke’s ministry of music exists to enhance the worship of the church, to enable people to offer themselves in service to God, and to reach out to the wider community. The music program has always played a vital part in the life of St. Luke’s. In the past, the parish was known for The St. Luke’s Choristers, a Men and Boys Choir that flourished for over 60 years. Today, the church has a mixed-gender choir with professional-quality soloists and instrumentalists accompanied by an Austin pipe organ and/or piano.

Music at our Sunday liturgies is primarily classical and embraces the best of the Anglican choral tradition, but also includes music from many centuries and cultures. We are often joined by guest instrumentalists such as brass quartets, drums and chamber orchestras.

St. Luke’s outstanding acoustics make the church a favorite performance venue for local musical organizations, such as The Long Beach Chorale, Women of Note and The Long Beach Classical Guitar Society.

Music Staff

Dr. Gukhui Han,  Director of Music & Organist, English Worship
Victor Vento,  Director of Music, Misa en Español

SECTION LEADERS: 
Lauren Jessup, Soprano 
Alyssa Mesa, Alto 
Harlee Balajadia, Tenor 
Jakob Hesse, Bass

CONTACT:
 Email: ghmusic@stlukeslb.org
Phone: (562) 436-4047

About Our Section Leaders:

Lauryn Jessup (Soprano) is from Long Beach, California and is currently working on her Bachelors of Music degree in Opera Performance at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music. Lauryn’s interest in Opera began at Mt. San Antonio College where she obtained her Associates degree and had her very first role as “Emilia” in Rossini’s Otello. While studying there, she participated in various groups singing Opera, Jazz, Chamber Music, and performed in New York, Reno, Minneapolis, Montreal, Quebec, and South Africa.
Lauryn Transferred to CSU Long Beach in 2018 and performed in Bel Canto Choir, University Choir, Chamber Choir, and was cast as “Eurydice” in Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld back in 2020. Outside of Long Beach, Lauryn has participated in numerous Masterclasses and studied with New York Dramatic Voices for two seasons as “Donna Anna” in Mozart’s Don Giovanni and the title role in Dvorak’s Rusalka. Lauryn is now finishing up her last year as an Undergrad and is very excited for the upcoming academic year.

Alyssa Mesa (Alto) is a 21 year old student at California State University of Long Beach studying Vocal Performance and Choral Music Education. She enjoys picnics and park days with her friends as well as traveling with her choir. Alyssa is very excited to join the congregation in singing and worship as we start this new year!

Harlee Balajadia (Tenor) is a Long Beach Native, born and raised - and now teaching here in his hometown. He received two Bachelors of Music Degrees at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at CSULB - in Vocal Performance and Choral / Vocal Music Education where he studied voice under Timothy MacDougall and Scott Hedgecock. During his time at Bob Cole, Harlee has had the opportunity to perform and have leadership roles in the Bob Cole Chamber Choir, Opera Chorus, and in Pacific Standard Time. Harlee is now currently the Director of the Choral / Vocal / Music Appreciation Department at Charles Evans Hughes Middle School in LBUSD, a Staff Soloist at St. Luke's Episcopal Church of Long Beach under the direction of Dr. Guk Hui Han, runs a private voice studio, and is a Co-Founder of the Music Podcast: 2.5 Music Teachers. (Two and a Half)

Jakob Hesse (Bass) is a southern California native, born in Arcadia, raised in San Gabriel, and now lives in West Covina. He received his Bachelors of Music in Choral Music Education from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University Long Beach. Jake has worked as the Choral Assistant to the Choir program at Bob Cole for the past 2 years, while having participated in the University Choir, Cantus, and the Bob Cole Chamber Choir during his time at CSULB. Jake is now still working as the Choral Assistant, participating in the Chamber Choir under the direction of Dr. Jonathan Talberg, and is now a staff soloist under the direction of Dr. Gukhui Han.