music & sound tech ministry

The Saturday 5:00 PM Mass teams lead the congregation in with recent contemporary music and arrangements (such as Hillsong, Bethel, contemporary versions of hymns) within the context of the liturgical year. Singers sing tight 3-part harmonies and are accompanied by keys, bass, drums, guitar, and other instruments.  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, based on their schedules. Midweek and Saturday rehearsals are normally required.  The ability to read notation from praise charts or chord charts is highly recommended, and improvisational skills utilized.

The Sunday 7:45 AM liturgical singing is led by a single cantor and organ/piano. Familiar hymns are sung, along with periods of sacred silence.  Three to five male or female cantors sing by audition on a rotating schedule.  Organ preludes and postludes are softer and more meditative than the 9:30 Choral Mass.

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.

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.

Handbells occasionally the congregation and choir.  Auditions consist 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. 

The Sunday 11:30 contemporary team leads the parish in contemporary praise and worship music (such as Hillsong, Bethel, and contemporary arrangements of traditional hymns) 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 Worship Leader is Michael Bochenec. 

At every Sunday 5:00 PM Mass, skilled graduate students (cantor and organ) sing Latin Gregorian chant, traditional hymns, and changed English Propers. In the near future, we may be seeking singers interested in singing with the cantor or in octet with Latin and English Gregorian Chant.

Currently, children’s choirs and cantors sing within St. Patrick Catholic School. For more information, contact Jennifer Curtin at jcurtin@stpatchurch.org

We are often seeking additional experienced piano or organ accompanists for adult and children’s choirs or teams, or as substitute pianists/organists for Masses and weddings.

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

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. Worship leaders and musicians lead with planned songs and spontaneous, Spirit-led worship outside the Mass. Interested musicians can contact the 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 Nancy Coffey, the Lead Sound Tech, and are scheduled on a rotating basis. For more information, contact Nancy Coffey (ncoffey@stpatchurch.org) or join by clicking the white tab above.

We gladly accept volunteer office assistants or music helpers to help with a variety of musical jobs, Contact: Stephen Royal at sroyal@stpatchurch.org.