Description of group: Cantors lead the congregation singing at all Masses in both languages. English language: Contemporary Choir (9:30 Mass, first and third Sundays of the month); “Singers”, Adult Choir (11 a.m. Mass); Children’s Choirs (9:30 Mass); High School and College Choir (summer months, 9:30 Mass). Handbell choir for specific seasons or occasions. Schola (four member) Choir throughout the year. Instrumentalists (violin, flute, recorder, piano, guitar, brass) work with vocal musicians. Spanish language Adult Choirs at 12:30 Mass and seasonal Spanish Language Children’s Choir at 12:30 Mass.
Membership: Parishioners of all ages with vocal talent for the choir. Cantors are parishioners high school age and older with vocal/solo talent. Instrumentalists of all sorts are welcome.
How often group meets: Rehearsals: “Singers” Adult Choir, Thursday, September through May, 7:30 p.m. in Church. Contemporary Choir, 8:30 a.m., 1st and 3rd Sundays. Children’s Choirs, “Cherubs” (grades 1-3) Wednesday, 5 to 6 p.m. “Choristers” (grades 4 -8) Wednesday, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Friday, 3 to 4 p.m. Spanish Choir rehearsal 11:30 a.m. Sunday, prior to 12:30 Mass. Cantors serve as scheduled. All choirs rehearse in church.
Contact persons:
Kent Jager (English) (773) 539-7510
Maria Valdez (Spanish) (773) 743-0821
CANTORES, COROS Y MUSICOS – INGLES Y ESPAÑOL
Descripción del grupo:
Cantores dirigen el canto en todas las misas en ambos lenguajes: En inglés: Coro Contemporáneo (Misa de las 9:30, primer y tercer domingo del mes); “Cantantes”, Coro de Adultos (misa de las 11:00 AM); Coro de Niños (Misa de las 9:30); Coro de Escuela Secundaria y Colegio (meses de verano, misa de las 9:30). Coro de Campanas para ocasiones y estaciones especiales. Coro Escolástico (cuatro miembros) a través de todo el año. Instrumentalistas (violin, flauta, órgano, piano, guitarra, metal) trabajan con músicos vocales. Coro Hispano de Adultos de la misa de las 12:30 y Coro de Niños –ocasionales, por estación-de la misa de las 12:30.
Membresía:
Feligreses de todas las edades con talento musical. Los cantores son feligreses de escuela secundaria o mayores con talento vocal. Todos los instrumentalistas son bienvenidos.
Cuán frecuente se reúne el grupo: Prácticas: “Cantantes” Coro de Adultos, Jueves, Septiembre hasta Mayo, 7:30 PM en la iglesia. Coro Contemporáneo, 8:30 AM, 1ro y 3er Domingo. Coro de Niños, “Querubes” (grados 1-3) Miércoles, 5 a 6 PM. “Coristas” (grados 4 -8) Miércoles, 6:30 a 7:30 PM, Viernes, 3 a 4 PM. Prácticas del Coro Hispano 11:30 AM domingos, antes de las misa de las 12:30. Cantores sirven de acuerdo al itinerario. Todos los coros practican en la iglesia.
Personas a contactar:
Kent Jager (Inglés) (773) 539-7510
Maria Valdez (Español) (773) 743-0821
Angelic Voices
By Kent Jager, Queen of Angels Parish Choir Director
This article first appeared in the Queen of Angels School Newsletter for alumni, parents and friends, Winter, 2004
Music permeates our existence. It makes or breaks a film, we have special radios so we can listen in the shower (and sing along!), we pay large sums of money to hear the famous singers of the day. From stores to elevators to airplane flights to the guy sitting next to you on the El, it touches our lives and helps us express our inner-most emotions.
But where do all these rock stars, opera singers, and that person singing the National Anthem at the Cubs get their start? Who first introduced them to the world of music? In many cases it was often their childhood church. With a tradition of vocal music that extends back thousands of years and continues to grow and evolve today, the church has always been a leader when it comes to vocal music.
At Queen of Angels there is a renewed commitment to making music. With an explosion of choirs in the last three years, we are singing more than ever and participation has sky-rocketed, especially with our youngest parishioners.
Over 50 children now actively participate in the Music Ministry at the parish through weekly rehearsals and regular participation in weekend Liturgies. These kids aren’t just there to sing a few tunes and have a good time, they are learning liturgical repertory and the fundamentals of music, worshipping with their voices, and growing spiritually. The goal is to create lifelong singers who will have the opportunity to use their musical knowledge for their worship, enjoyment and, in some cases, their employment.
There are two choirs for children at Queen of Angels. The Queen of Angels Cherubs are singers in the 1st through 3rd grades. They meet once a week on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. to rehearse and sing once a month at the Saturday, 5:00 p.m. Mass.
The Queen of Angels Choristers are children in the 4th through 8th grades. Their primary responsibility is preparing for the Sunday, 9:30 a.m. Liturgy on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. They rehearse on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. and on Fridays at 3:00 p.m. Both choirs are open to children in the Parish School and other area schools and include many children currently attending CCD at Queen of Angels.
Choristers in 6th through 8th grade have the opportunity to audition for scholarships to the Parish School. For the 2003-04 choir season six $400 scholarships were awarded to Choristers. In addition the choirs are affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music and Choristers are encouraged to attend choir camp during the summer where they have an opportunity to meet other singers their age and sing with some of the finest choral conductors in the world.
Hopefully you have had a chance to hear the Cherubs and Choristers. If not, come hear them during one of the Parish Liturgies. If you have a child who is interested in joining please call Kent Jager at (773) 293-1701 to arrange an audition. At Queen of Angels Parish we want every child to have the opportunity to discover the powerful influence making music can have on their lives!
