St. Michael Choir
St. Michael is blessed with many talented musicians who regularly share the gift of music. For many years, the members of St. Michael’s Choir have sung at the 9:00 am Mass at St. Michael’s, and now sing at the 10:30 am Mass at St. Mary’s. Their dedicated service helps us to raise our minds and hearts to God in song.
Choir rehearsals are on Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00 pm in the St. Mary Choir Loft.
St. Michael Schola Cantorum
St. Michael Parish has a musical group of extraordinary talent that sings inspiring and beautiful music from our rich Catholic tradition. The Schola Cantorum, founded in 2007, is a chamber choir group which is able to accomplish some of the wonderful music from European composers in the 1400 to 1600s known as the Renaissance and Baroque classical musical periods, as well as the original music of the church known as Gregorian chant which was sung as early as the medieval times. The majority of the music is in Latin, the language of the church. In our geographical area, there really is no other musical group of this level connected to a Catholic church which does what St. Michael’s Schola does.
The Schola is composed of singers that are from all over the area. Some are Catholics, but many are just talented singers who love the challenge of this music. The group numbers from 18 to 26, depending upon the availability of the singers.
The Schola typically performs four to six times per year. They perform on occasions which center around a feast day or solemnity of the liturgical year. The Schola generally rehearses three times prior to the service. The members receive music files via email, which allow them to do a “virtual rehearsal” so that they may hear how their part fits into the whole and allows them to have a level of preparedness before rehearsals even begin.
Cantors
The cantor, or the chief singer of the choir, generally must be ready to lead all the singing in church or to start any chant.
If you are interested in becoming a part of the church’s music ministry, contact Cheryl Banker, Director of Music, at 860-599-5580.
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