Missouri State University’s Department of Music alumnus Jared Swope has been named to the full-time roster of the GRAMMY-nominated Trinity Choir at Trinity Church in New York, New York.

Swope performs two Sunday morning services and an improvised compline service with the choir every week, as well as special liturgical services throughout the year

Trinity Choir performs a robust concert calendar, the Bach at One series, and frequently records and goes on tour, according to Swope. Individual choir singers also serve as section leaders and soloists for the two community choirs at Trinity.

Along with his Trinity Choir duties, Swope is on the core roster of True Concord Voices & Orchestra and the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus and a founding member of Fourth Wall Ensemble in New York City. In addition, he frequently collaborates with Spire Chamber Ensemble, Three Notch’d Road Baroque, Ensemble Altera and other groups throughout the country.

Swope’s experience impresses church musical leadership

Swope learned he had been offered a full-time position with Trinity Choir after returning from work in Germany in August 2025. His preparation, attitude and rapport with the ensemble convinced the church’s musical leadership that he would be a good addition to the choir, he said.

“I was fortunate to have auditioned as a substitute singer the previous season and filled in for a concert later that year,” Swope explained. “I had also performed with the music director on previous projects, so both the assistant and artistic directors had known me personally through week-long projects.”

From musical family to full-time professional

Swope grew up in Columbia, Missouri, surrounded by a musical family. He was the one who took things a step further by becoming a professional singer, however.

Now, Swope specializes in ensemble and one-per-part singing as well as early music written before 1750 and contemporary music.

“These ventures tend to go hand-in-hand with each other, as they rely on skills of flexibility, collegiality, musical variety and dedication,” he noted.

Years at Missouri State helped lead to success

Swope credits his years at Missouri State for giving him the tools to succeed in a musical career.

“Many first opportunities with ensembles tend to be emergency last-minute fill-ins, and if you can show up prepared or able to work quickly and meld with the rest of the group, then it sets you up to have more work, more recommendations, more colleagues…the list goes on,” he said. “The sheer amount of music and opportunities at Missouri State certainly have encouraged a pillar of my professional life.”

Swope graduated from Missouri State in 2016 with undergraduate degrees in vocal performance and music education. He next entered the Master of Sacred Music in vocal performance program at the University of Notre Dame, graduating in 2020. From there, Swope entered Yale University, graduating in 2023 with a Master of Music in early music, oratorio and chamber ensembles.

While at Missouri State, Swope performed with the Chorale, touring both nationally and internationally to Europe and South Africa. Swope was also a founding member of the Men’s Chorus in 2014.

“I am eternally grateful to Drs. Cameron LaBarr, Chris Thompson, Guy Webb and so many more for their constant encouragement and honing of my skills,” Swope said.

Their “engagement and persistence,” he added, instilled the work ethic, musicality, professional demeanor and flexibility he needed to succeed in the music profession.

About the Trinity Choir

The Trinity Choir performs the liturgy for services as well as outside performances. They perform as part of the Bach at One series and at Compline by Candlelight, among others, and often perform with NOVUS, Trinity Baroque Orchestra, and Trinity Youth Chorus. Recently, the choir performed Handel’s “Messiah” from memory and Britten’s “Saint Nicolas.”

Trinity Church, founded in 1697, is located in New York, New York.

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