A Path of Discipleship and a Means of Service

Discover here the many opportunities offered to children, youth and adults
in our parish for discipleship and ministry in music!



Special Classes and Lessons
In addition to its choir and liturgical music programs, the Schola Cantorum offers several seasonal workshops and courses throughout the year that are open to all parishioners.


Monday, August 1, 2011

UPDATE - Adult Choir

CLICK HERE for information about our 2011-2012 Adult Choir program.

UPDATE - Youth Choir Grades 9-12

CLICK HERE for information on our 2011-2012 Youth Choir program.

UPDATE - Children's Choir Grades 4-8

CLICK HERE for information about our 2011-2012 Choristers program.

UPDATE - Children's Choir Grades 1-3

CLICK HERE for information on the 2011-2012 SongBirds Chorister Training Program

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Adult & Youth Choir Update

May Choir Activities
Adult Choir and Youth Choir members are invited to refer to the Parish Choir Calendar for the schedule of May rehearsals and Liturgies.  Confirmed youth are welcome to sing with the adult choir for any or all of the activities for the remainder of the season.

Confirmation
As indicated on all of the choir calendars since the beginning of the year, all of the choirs will be singing for the Sacrament of Confirmation on Monday, May 9:

Monday, May 9
6:00 pm Warm-up (East door open at 5:45 pm)
7:00-9:00 pm Confirmation Mass with Archbishop Naumann
NOTE:  We are estimating the "outside" time the Confirmation liturgy is expected to last.  Minors may meet parents in the Choir Loft immediately following the liturgy, or they may be picked up at the East door outside Fr. Porter Hall.  Minors will be expected to check-out with a parent supervisor before departing.

June Choir Activities
Since Easter was so late this year, all of the big dependent feasts have backed up into June!  In order to celebrate these days well, we'll be organizing ad hoc choirs for the Sunday feasts in June:  Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday and Pentecost.  All Choristers, Youth Choir members and Adult singers are invited to sing in one or more or all of these ad hoc choirs, attending the Wednesday evening rehearsal before each Sunday for which they plan to sing.  Perhaps you'd like to do this as a family!  Please see the Parish Choir Calendar for dates and times.

Choir Registration for 2011-2012
While we are always looking for new singers to join us, spaces in the choir are limited by rehearsal space and budget for materials.  Preference will always be given to returning choir members in good standing.  Stay tuned for information about 2011-2012 Choir Registration and Free Vocal Check-Ups for returning choir members.

Choristers May Update

Last Rehearsal & Party
According to our Choir Calendar, Wednesday, May 4, is to be our last rehearsal for the year.  Since we have two liturgical events yet to sing for, I would like to invite all Choristers back next Wednesday, May 11, for a season wrap-up and celebration, including a concluding prayer and refreshments.  We will meet at the usual time (4:10-5:20 p.m.)

Mother's Day Mass
Sunday, May 8
9:30 am Warm-Up/Rehearsal (Choir Room - East door open at 9:15 am)
10:30 am Mass
     ATTIRE: SUNDAY BEST (no jeans, t-shirts or gym shoes)

Confirmation (with Archbishop Naumann)
Monday, May 9
6:00 pm Warm-Up/Rehearsal (Choir room - East door open at 5:45 pm)
7:00-9:00 pm Confirmation Mass
NOTE:  We are estimating the "outside" length of Confirmation.  Those attending the liturgy may pick up their children in the Choir Loft at the end of Mass.  Others may pick up their children at the East door of Fr. Porter Hall.  Children will need to check-out with parent supervisor before departing.

June Ad hoc Choirs
Because Easter is so late this year, all of the important Springtime feasts fall in June:  Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday and Corpus Christi.  All choristers, youth choir members, and adult singers are invited to sing on any one or more of these Sundays, attending the Wednesday evening rehearsal before a given Sunday.  Perhaps this is something you'd like to do as a family!  See the Calendar for dates and times.

Choir Registration for 2011-2012
Places in the choir will continue to be limited to 24.  Preference will be given to returning choir members in good standing.  Stay tuned for more information.

SongBirds Update

This is our last week of choir for the year (see calendar), concluding with our singing at the 10:30 a.m. Mass this Sunday, May 8:

Mother's Day Mass
Sunday, May 8
9:30 am Warm-Up/Rehearsal (Choir Room - East doors open at 9:15 am)
10:30 am Mass
     The SongBirds will sing "Everywhere I Go" by Natalie Sleeth
What to wear:  SUNDAY BEST (no jeans, t-shirts or gym shoes)


Choir Registration for 2011-2012
Stay tuned!

Cantor Guild Update

The May schedule is now online (click here for calendar).

The Summer Availability Survey has been updated to run from June through Labor Day.  Please look at your calendar and use this survey to communicate your availability for service during the summer months.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Choristers March Update

Ash Wednesday, March 9 is our last meeting before Spring Break. 
  • Choristers, please bring your Voice for Life workbooks (some new members may not have them yet; see Choristers page).
  • As usual we will finish Vespers (Evening Prayer at 5:20 p.m.  PLEASE NOTE:  If you are going to be later than 5:20 p.m. in picking up your child on Ash Wednesday, you will need to meet them in the Choir Loft.  Miss Franklin and I are both serving at the 5:30 p.m. Mass and will be unable to maintain a safe environment beyond the normal pick-up time on this day.
Choir will resume on Tuesday, March 22.
  • This marks an intense, four-week push toward Holy Week.  Please make attendance at Tuesday sectional rehearsal and Wednesday full rehearsal an extra-high priority during this time.
  • Student will receive at this time a rehearsal CD to help them to prepare music in advance of rehearsals.
Please note following special events on our Calendar for April (I know that all parents will join Fr. Bill and me in regarding these to be higher priority than any athletic events that happen to be scheduled during this time :) :
  • Saturday, April 16 - 5:00 p.m. Palm Sunday Mass
    • Choristers and SongBirds
  • Thursday, April 21 - 7:00 p.m. Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper
    • Choristers, Youth and Adults
  • Friday, April 22 - 7:00 p.m. Good Friday Celebration of the Lord's Passion
    • Choristers, Youth and Adults
  • Sunday, April 24 - 10:30 a.m. Easter Sunday Mass
    • Choristers alone
Looking ahead to May:
  • Sunday, May 8 - 10:30 a.m. Mother's Day Mass
    • Choristers and SongBirds
  • Monday, May 9 - 7:00 p.m. Confirmation
    • Choristers, Youth and Adults 

SongBirds Update

Tuesday, March 8 the last day SongBirds Chorister Training program before Spring Break.  SongBirds resumes on Tuesday, March 22.  [Calendar]

All of the children are doing great in our Ward Method singing classes!  Among our successes so far this year:
  • Everyone has found their singing voice with good "head resonance"
  • All the children are able to match pitch alone and with others, to remember brief melodic patterns sung or shown to them in number-symbol notation
  • All of the children are fairly fluent in reading and singing melodic patterns on the "lower pentachord" (written "1-2-3-4-5," sung "Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So")
When we return, we'll begin four-weeks of preparation for singing at the 5:00 p.m. Palm Sunday Mass on Saturday, April 16. [Click here for SongBirds calendar.]  At this time, children will receive a practice CD containing their music for Palm Sunday and Mother's Day.

Blessings for Spring Break renewal!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Instrumentalist Update

Spring Availability Surveys Posted

Instrumentalists, please let us know of  your availability during:

April 2011
May 2011
June 2011

Cantor Guild Update

Spring Availability Surveys Posted
Please take a moment  to communicate your availability for service:

April 2011
May 2011
June 2011

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Children's Choir Update

 
Choir Resumes Tuesday, January 11

The SongBirds Chorister Training program resumes on Tuesday, January 11 (Grades 1 & 2 at 3:30-3:50 p.m. and Grade 3 at 3:50-4:10 p.m.)  SongBirds, please bring your blue workbooks each day.

Choristers meet for sectional/voice-for-life sessions on Tuesday, January 11, either in the morning at 7:30-8:00 a.m. or in the evening at 5:30-6:00 p.m.  Full rehearsal on Wednesday, January 12 as usual.  Choristers, please bring your Voice for Life workbooks everyday from now on.