music ministry

The Saturday 5:00 PM Mass teams lead the congregation in both contemporary and traditional liturgical worship. Singers singing 3-part harmonies are accompanied by piano, keys, guitar, bass, organ, strings, and percussion. Rehearsals are Wednesdays, 6:30 to 8:30 PM, and Saturdays 3:30 to 4:40 pm. Currently there are two auditioned rotating teams. Musicians may play 1 to 4 times a month. Midweek and Saturday rehearsals are required. The ability to read notation from praise charts or chord charts is highly recommended, but improvisational skills are welcome. The team directors are Stephen Royal and Andrea Peterson. Contact: Stephen Royal, Director of Music (sroyal@stpatchurch.org).

The traditional choir (30+ people) leads the congregation in traditional hymns, psalms, and some Gregorian chant at the Sunday 9:30 Mass. Choral singing emphasizes balance, tonal blending,
articulation, and dynamic phrasing. A background in reading notation is helpful. The repertoire includes four-part traditional, classic, and renaissance music. Rehearsals are Thursday evenings, 7 PM to 8:30 PM, beginning after Labor Day in September and running through May. The choir also rehearses on Sunday mornings at 8:55 AM before the Mass. This is not an auditioned group. The directors are Stephen Royal and Deb Bryne, and the accompanist is Peng Hampton. Contact: Stephen Royal, Director of Music (sroyal@stpatchurch.org).

Trios or octets often sing renaissance music in the context or along with the choir at the 9:30 Mass. Rehearsals are every Thursday at 6:30 to 7 PM. Excellent sight-reading skills and an appropriate vocal tonality is required by audition. We are also seeking Renaissance singers for the Sunday 5 PM Mass. Contact Stephen Royal, Director of Music (sroyal@stpatchurch.org).

Handbells accompany the congregation and choir twice a month. Auditions consists of being able to play on the beat and read simple color-coded notation with beginning or intermediate arrangements. The goal is to add solemnity and festivity to traditional Masses. Rehearsals are Wednesday from 5:45 PM to 6:30 PM. Directors are Stephen Royal and Mary Mohlnar. Contact: Stephen Royal, Director of Music (sroyal@stpatchurch.org).

The Sunday 11:30 contemporary team leads the parish in contemporary praise and worship music in the context of the liturgical year. The team is led by a worship leader, and includes harmonized singing, guitars, keyboards, bass, and percussion. Auditioned musicians should be able to read or improvise with chord charts or lead sheets. Rehearsals are Tuesdays at 7:30 PM to 9 PM, and Sundays at 10:40 AM to 11:15 AM. The director and worship leader is Martin Doman. Contact: Stephen Royal, Director of Music (sroyal@stpatchurch.org).

At every Sunday 5:00 PM Mass, skilled cantors and soloists sing Latin Gregorian chant, traditional hymns, and chanted English Propers. Singers interested in singing with the cantor or in octet with Latin and English Gregorian Chant should contact the Music Director, Stephen Royal (sroyal@stpatchurch.org).

Currently, children’s choirs for grades K through five sing three times a year for special occasions. Watch the parish bulletin, midweek announcements, and this website for upcoming schedules. If you wish to be involved and volunteer services, contact director Jenny Curtin (jcurtin@stpatchurch.org) or Stephen Royal, Director of Music (sroyal@stpatchurch.org).

Worship leaders, cantors, chanters, and psalmists lead the congregation in sung prayer, both meditatively or with corporate singing, with the intention of engaging the presence of God in our personal lives and the assembly. These are interviewed positions.

Worship leaders lead the singing and worship of the congregation. They are also responsible for recruiting, rehearsing musicians, planning music, prayer, and working effectively with the sound crew and clean up. Stipends may be available.

Cantors lead the congregation with hymns, psalms, and the ordinaries for the Sunday 7:45 AM and 9:30 AM masses. They rehearse 30 minutes before Mass begins or with a scheduled choir at midweek rehearsals. Psalmists who are not cantors specialize in singing only the psalm.

Chanters sing antiphons in either English or Latin as well as Gregorian chant at the Sunday 9:30 AM or 5 PM Masses. Chanters at the 9:30 Mass also sing in the context of the choir.

Instrumentalists and Vocal Soloists are encouraged to offer their talents for Sundays and Holy Days. Musicians will be accepted by audition. Contact Stephen Royal if interested (sroyal@stpatchurch.org) or Jenni Curtin, Music Program Coordinator (jcurtin@stpatchurch.org).

The Restored Team leads praise and worship for Adoration with the Eucharist on the second Saturday of every month. Musicians lead with planned songs and spontaneous, Spirit-led worship outside the Mass. Interested musicians should contact the Director of Discipleship, Kevin Bailey (kbailey@stpatchurch.org) or Music Director, Stephen Royal (sroyal@stpatchurch.org). Rehearsals are communicated within the team.

The Saint Patrick’s sound crew has been trained to set up sound equipment and engage with the new Simoni sound system and digital Allen and Heath and SQ mixer. Trainees are responsible for balancing the sounds of celebrants, readers, and musicians. Sound crew members run the sound for every Saturday 5 PM contemporary Mass, 9:30 choral Mass, and 11:30 contemporary Mass. They are responsible to show up 30 minutes before the Mass, set monitor levels in cooperation with the musicians and worship leaders, and help with cleanup after the mass. Sound techs work as a team with and report to the choral director or the worship leader of the Mass they are scheduled for, as well as to the Lead Sound Tech. New members receive training by John Cristiano, the Lead Sound Tech, and are scheduled on a rotating basis. Contact John Cristiano (soundtech@stpatchurch.org) or Stephen Royal, Director of Music (sroyal@stpatchurch.org).

We gladly accept volunteer office assistants or music helpers to help with a variety of musical jobs, concert recruitment, musician scheduling, and organization of music. Those skilled and interested in Hospitality, fundraising, and media Communications should contact Jenni Curtin Assistant Program Manager (jcurtin@stpatchurch.org) or Stephen Royal, Director of Music (sroyal@stpatchurch.org).