Friday, September 07, 2018

Catholic Children’s Choirs 2018

Once again, we publish our annual list of Catholic Liturgical Children’s Choirs. First published in 2013, the list has grown substantially, so we are delighted to share it again. The start of the academic year is an ideal time to be thinking about enrolling your child in a choir. In so doing, you are helping to beautify the Liturgy, and your child will gain the immeasurable benefits of an immersion in the musical treasures of the Catholic Church.

It is quite possible that some of the information below is out of date: if so, please help by making amendments in the comments. Likewise, if you are the Director of a Catholic children’s choir which is not listed, please email the details in the format shown below to ccole@newliturgicalmovement.org and we will update the post.

UNITED STATES (State alphabetical)

BIRMINGHAM, AL
Cathedral of St Paul: a Schola for boys and girls learning Chant and other Sacred Music. Director of Music, Mr. Bruce Ludwick, Jr.: Ludwick@stpaulsbhm.org Website

SURPRISE, AZ
St. Clare of Assisi: a children’s choir for students in grades 3-8, forming on the west side of the Diocese of Phoenix Arizona. The choir will specialize in Gregorian chant and sacred music. Contact is Director of Music Matthew J. Meloche: mmeloche@diocesephoenix.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
Corpus Christi: The St. Cecilia Schola Cantorum offers a music education and choral experience which includes instruction in sight singing, theory, Catholic catechesis and Gregorian chant. The St. Cecilia Choir (7+ years) and the Mary’s Angels Choir (under age 7) rehearse on Friday afternoons. Open to non-parish members. Contact the director, Valerie Nicolosi, at valnic33@sbcglobal.net Website

HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO
Pax Christi Church: Chorister program in European Cathedral tradition. Director Raymond Ortiz: rfortiz@paxchristi.org Website

NORWALK, CT
St Mary’s: Director of Music David Hughes, a key CMAA figure and leading Catholic musician, has a huge music programme involving a number of choirs with excellent opportunities for children. Contact David Hughes: music@stmarynorwalk.net Website

NAPLES, FL
Corpus Christi Chapel, a mission of Christ the King Church, Sarasota (FSSP): Saint Michael the Archangel Boys’ Schola, for boys 8-13 with unchanged voices, and Saint Cecilia Girls’ Schola, for girls 8-13. The children sing Gregorian Ordinary chants, hymns, and other liturgical chants. They also sing the treble part in polyphonic motets with Capella Corpus Christi, the parish’s adult choir. Rehearsals are on Saturday mornings; for further information, please contact the Director, Dr. Susan Treacy, at choir@corpuschristifssp.com

CHICAGO, IL
St John Cantius: multiple choirs. Contact Director of Music Fr Scott Haynes: music@cantius.org Website

TOPEKA, KS
Most Pure Heart of Mary Schola Cantorum, Topeka, KS. Founded in 2011 as an “after school choir school,” there are currently more than 50 students involved as Probationers (new singers), Junior Choristers (training choir) and Senior Choristers. The Senior Choristers, along with the Men of the Choir, sing every Sunday from September through Corpus Christi, as well as for concerts and civic events. Contact Dr. Lucas Tappan: ltappan@mphm.com Website

ELLICOTT CITY, MD
Regina Caeli Schola Cantorum: a Gregorian Chant class for children grade 3-8. Rehearsals on Mondays. Contact the Director Mia Coyne: miacoyne@gmail.com Website

PASADENA, MD
St Jane Frances de Chantal: Parish Children’s Choir for children grade 3-8, rehearses on Wednesday evenings and sings for Sunday 10am Mass. Gregorian Chant and Hymns. Director Mia Coyne: miacoyne@gmail.com Website

CAMBRIDGE, MA
St Paul’s, Harvard Square: home to the renowned St Paul’s Choir School, one of two Catholic Choir Schools in the USA. Musical boys in 3rd grade should apply for entry at 4th grade. Contact John Robinson, Director of Music: 617-868-8658, jrobinson@choirschool.net Information Website

KALAMAZOO, MI
St. Mary’s, Kalamazoo, Michigan has a children’s choir which sings principally at the EF Mass. Propers, Ordinary, and hymns and motets. Chant and some polyphony. Website

DULUTH, MN
St Benedict’s: Children’s Schola for boys and girls grades 2-8, directed by Sandra Eller, to study sight reading skills using solfege, and sing Latin and English chant in modern and Gregorian notation. Rehearses Wednesday evenings, sings for Sunday Mass once a month. Contact Director Sandra Eller: nannybouje@gmail.com Website

ST. PAUL, MN
Cathedral of St Paul: The Cathedral Choir School of Minnesota is an after-school program at the Cathedral on Wednesdays for Choristers in grades K-12, beginning with Benediction and concluding with Mass. Contact Jayne Windnagel: jwindnagel@cathedralsaintpaul.org Website

St Agnes Church: Parish Children’s Choir, Director Jacob Flaherty. Website

LEMAY (ST. LOUIS), MO
St Martin of Tours: a new children’s choir focusing on Chant and polyphony, directed by Mary Pentecost, weekly rehearsals (Thursdays) and singing at a monthly Mass. Auditions for children in Grades 3-12. Contact Mary Pentecost: 314-544-5664 Information Website

HELENA, MT
Cathedral of St Helena: The St Cecilia Choir for boys and girls aged 7-15 sings once a month at the 11am Mass, with weekly rehearsals on Tuesdays. Website

LINCOLN, NE
St. Francis of Assisi Chapel, FSSP: Sacred Music Instruction for boys and girls 7-14: including Ward method activities, Gregorian chant, and beginning polyphony. Rehearsals are Wednesdays from 4-5 pm. Choristers sing for occasional sung Masses at SF Chapel. Those interested in joining please contact Nicholas Lemme, Chant Director at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary, FSSP; Choir Director at St. Francis of Assisi Chapel 402-797-7700

CHARLOTTE, NC
St Ann’s Church: Choir auditions Girls aged 11-16. Website

St Patrick’s Cathedral: Children’s Choir. Website

RALEIGH, NC
A new youth schola (12+ years old) directed by Dr. Patricia Warren to compliment Schola Vox Clara, a Schola which serves the Extraordinary Form in the Diocese of Raleigh. Weekly rehearsals to sing for one EF Mass per month to start. Mixed voices, and gentlemen with both unchanged and changed voices are welcome. No prior choral experience is necessary. Contact Dr. Patricia Warren,
Director, Schola Vox Clara: pwarren@christeluxmundi.org

PELHAM, NY
Ward method classes given by NLM’s Jennifer Donelson are available as part of the Colm Cille Club homeschool co-op curriculum. Classes are on Wednesday mornings at St Catherine’s Church. Website

CLEVELAND, OH
Padre Pio Academy: Voces Caelestes. Director Annette Spallone Murphy Website

LATROBE, PA
Holy Family: Schola Cantorum sings at a weekly Diocesan Extraordinary Form Mass. Its members are girls and young women ages 14-23, who sing Gregorian Chant and Renaissance polyphony alone, and occasionally with a men’s Schola (in formation). Contact Fr. Stephen Concordia O.S.B. : stephen.concordia@stvincent.edu Website

MOUNT PLEASANT, SC
Harmonia Children’s Choir Christ Our King Stella Maris School. Directors, Scott and Suzanne Fleming-Atwood: satwood1@coksm.org and atwoodscottn@gmail.com

TAYLORS, SC
Prince of Peace: Children in K5-12th grade are welcome to join one of our four children's choirs. There are choirs for both the Ordinary and Extraordinary form of the Mass. Choirs are directed by Alan Reed, Kelly Herd and Elizabeth Eger. Website

DALLAS, TX
Saint Rita Catholic Church has a graded program for children in grades K-8, with three choirs serving 70 children. Jubilate Deo, grades 5-8, sings once each month for the sung liturgy, Novus Ordo. Additional training in theory and sight singing offered once per week. Dr. Alfred Calabrese, head director: acalabrese@stritaparish.net

HOUSTON, TX
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Schola Cantorum is an initiative of the parish and school, founded in 2016. Includes an after-school choir that sings with professional adults for the principal Mass on Sunday directed by Dr. Douglas O’Neill. In addition, all students of the parish school have obligatory music/choral class, and rotate in service of the school Mass each Friday, as well as sing concerts twice annually. Contact: Douglas O’Neill: doneill@seascs.org Website

SAN ANTONIO, TX
The Atonement Academy and Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church. The Saint Augustine Boy Choir is for boys with unchanged voices in grades 3-8. The Saint Nicholas Children’s Choir is for girls in grades 3-8. The choirs focus on Gregorian Chant and many motets and anthems of the Anglican Patrimony. Contact Brett Paterson, Department of Music (210) 695-2240 Website

SALT LAKE CITY, UT
Madeleine Cathedral: The Madeleine Choir School, a superb Cathedral Choir directed by Gregory Glenn with vocal training from Melanie Malinka, both inspirational musicians who are well-known to those who have attended the Colloquium the past two years in Salt Lake. Website

SPOKANE, WA
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes: The Diocesan Youth Choir for boys and girls in grades 3-8. In this diocesan choir, children learn music skills including singing technique and sight-reading and sing beautiful sacred music in the context of Mass presided over by the Bishop of Spokane. Contact the Cathedral Music Office at 509-358-4290 or youthchoir@dioceseofspokane.org

CHARLES TOWN, WV
St James the Greater: a number of children’s choirs - Sacred Heart Choir for Kindergarten - Grade 2, Saint Cecilia Choir for girls grades 3-8, Saint Gregory Choir for boys grades 3-8, Archangelus Chorale for high school students and Holy Trinity Ensemble, and auditioned choir for grades 5-12. Contact Director of Music Gary Penkala: liturgy@stjameswv.org Website

MILWAUKEE, WI
Basilica of St Josaphat: a new children’s choir is being formed. Contact Christopher Berry Director of Music berryc@archmil.org Website

The American Federation of Pueri Cantores Website

CANADA

ABBOTSFORD
A Catholic children's choir rehearses weekly on Tuesday evenings at St. James Parish in Abbotsford. Singers learn note reading and liturgical music in English and Latin, including chant and psalm tones. As we are just beginning the repertoire is simple and includes folksong and rounds in addition to liturgical pieces. Director Alexander McCune: alexanderchurchmusic@gmail.com

CALGARY
St John Choir Schola is a Catholic choir and educational program for boys and girls in grades 1-12 based in the community of Varsity. Grades 1-6 attend on Wednesdays and Fridays. Grades 7-12 attend Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Contact the Principal, Paul Hudec : phudec@shaw.ca Website

TORONTO
St Michael’s Cathedral: St Michael’s Choir School for boys has three choirs which sing at the Cathedral: Elementary Choir (Grades 3 & 4), Junior Choir (Grades 5 & 6), Senior Choir (Grades 7-12). Contact: musicoffice@smcs.on.ca Website

Oratory of St Philip Neri: The Oratory Children’s Choir - Children learn chanted ordinaries of the mass, English propers in psalm-tone and 2-pt fauxbourdon and motets from Medieval to 19th Century repertoire. Grade 4-12. Contact Director, Aaron James: hauptwerk@gmail.com

St. Thomas More Ordinariate Parish has a children’s choir for ages 7 to 18, meeting for weekly rehearsal on Thursday afternoons. Plainchant to contemporary classical repertoire. Directed by Katharine Mahon: kmahon79@yahoo.ca Website

OTTAWA
St George's Catholic Church in Ottawa, Ontario hosts the "Coram Deo" program for ages 8+. We sing sacred polyphony, the Gregorian Ordinary and Propers in English and Latin. The choir is under the direction of Dr Brian Butcher (lecturer at the Sheptysky Institute, University of Toronto). Website

EUROPE

AUTUN, FRANCE
Autun Cathedral Girls Choir - Choeur de Filles de la Maîtrise de la Cathédrale d’Autun. Liturgy - Concerts - Choir School. Girls aged 6 to 15 years old, trained in Gregorian Chant and Polyphony. Director : Hugo Gutierrez: maitrise.autun.choeurdefilles@gmail.com +33980903434 Website

PARIS, FRANCE
Notre Dame de L’Assomption 1er: Les Petits Chanteurs de Passy for boys and girls aged 8-14. Rehearses Fridays and Saturdays, sings polyphony with adult back row. Contact: contact@petits-chanteurs-passy.fr Website

Saint-Eugène - Sainte-Cécile 9e: Les Petits Chantres de Sainte-Cécile, a new choir for children launched at the end of September 2013. Rehearsals on Saturday afternoons. Contact the Director, Clotilde de Nedde: clotildedenedde@gmail.com Facebook Website

HAARLEM, THE NETHERLANDS
St Bavo Cathedral: The Koorschool is a Choir School for boys and girls from age 8. Contact : info@koorschoolhaarlem.nl Website

CAMBRIDGE, UNITED KINGDOM
Our Lady and the English Martyrs, Cambridge: The Choir School of Our Lady and the English Martyrs is a Junior Choir programme that trains young singers to become lifelong musicians. Directed by Adam Begley, the Choir rehearses weekly and sings selected Masses with the Parish Choir and Latin Schola. Open to boys and girls aged 7-17. Contact: music@olem.org.uk Website

LIVERPOOL, UNITED KINGDOM
Metropolitan Cathedral. Boys’ Choir and Girls’ Choir. Website

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
London Oratory SW7: The London Oratory Junior Choir for boys and girls aged 8-16 directed by Charles Cole. Three rehearsals per week and two services including the Sunday 10am Mass. Gregorian Chant Propers and Ordinary, motets from Medieval/Renaissance through to present day. Also sings for the Royal Ballet’s productions at Covent Garden. Contact: oratoryjuniorchoir@gmail.com Information Website

London Oratory Schola. Boys’ choir which sings the Saturday Vigil Mass at the London Oratory, Concerts, Tours, Recordings. All boys attend The London Oratory School Website

Church of Our Lady, Lisson Grove, St John’s Wood, NW8
Junior Choir for boys and girls aged 7-14 directed by Martin Toyer. Rehearsals on Friday 6pm-7pm, service Sunday mass at 12 noon and occasional concerts with churches senior choir. Gregorian chant Ordinary, responsorial psalms, hymns and motets from renaissance through to present day. Contact m@toyer.co.uk Website

St Francis of Assisi, Pottery Lane. Children’s Choir Website

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