Music is a vital part of the life and ministry at St. Stephen's in Longview. From the organ prelude to the closing hymn and postlude, music enriches our lives and provides another avenue for worship.

Often you will hear a choir anthem, special vocal or instrumental solos or ensembles...all woven into the fabric of the service.

The church, with its beautiful acoustics for music, has become a favorite venue for concert performances and recitals. Our "Celebration Concert Series," a program sponsored by the church, features outstanding musical artists. Usually concerts are given in the fall and just before Christmas, followed by two more...one in late winter and then culminating with the "Kaleidoscope" concert featuring a variety of local talent.

The St. Stephen's Choir welcomes you to sing, too. If you're reasonably certain you can handle part singing or simply have a desire to learn, come sing with us. Now, if you've had choral singing experience you just plain belong up there with us in one of those green robes.

This is a church that believes music is a vital part of enriching lives. St. Stephen's support "artists in residence" program for The Columbian Choral Ensemble directed by Alison Askeland and Brian Mitchell, a 30 voice community choir of accomplished singers, and a program of chamber music. A small group of outstanding instrumentalists meet regularly at St. Stephen's for rehearsal and perform occasionally for community and church events.

Howard Meharg serves as Minister of Music at St. Stephens.
Howard holds a Master of Music Education degree from Western Washington University and recently retired from thirty years of teaching choral music in the schools of Longview and Kelso, Washington. He is active in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and has served as state president of the Washington chapter. He is on the board of the six-state NW division of that organization and is editor of the member newsletter as well as webmaster.

Howard and his wife, Karen, live in Vancouver. Between them they have four grown children, six grand-children.

Jean Watson is director of the St. Stephen's Bell Choir, The Celebration Ringers. Although Jean was almost continuously involved in vocal and choral music since 6th grade, she began playing handbells in 1997 in Charlotte, NC. After moving to Kalama and joining St. Stephen’s, she began directing the bell choir in 2006. She tried her hand at writing gospel peals and occasional full handbell pieces, which prompted her to work with Arnold Sherman in a handbell composition master’s course in the summer of 2007.

A Chicago native, she recently retired after teaching RN and allied health students for 34 years in Illinois, Kansas, South Carolina and Washington. She has a BA in speech and drama, an MSN in nursing education and a PhD in educational administration.

She still works with her own allied health software business and is a partner in a quilt pattern business. In her “free time,” she enjoys her two cats and keeping them out of her yarns and fabrics.

Alison Askeland directs the children's choir, started in the fall of 2008. Alison is an accomplished singer and directs the choral program at R. A. Long High School in Longview.

Alison is co-director of The Columbian Choral Ensemble, a community choir of outstanding singers from SW Washington. She is a soprano in "Chor Anno," a twenty-two voice choral group made up of choral professionals, most who direct choirs in the schools, churches, and colleges in the NW.

, Ann Long grew up in Indianapolis Indiana.  She majored in music at Indiana University, earning her degree in 1973.  She has been an accompanist for the Longview School District for the last 9 years.  

She is also the pianist for the Southwest Washington Symphony, the LCC Symphonic Band, the Astoria Chamber Players, and the Amicus Trio.In addition to her musical contribution, she is also the treasurer for the St. Stephen's congregation.