Upcoming Church Music Events

The CMAA is pleased to post information about your sacred music event. Contact us for details. See the forum for more church music events. If you are thinking of organizing a workshop, here are some practical suggestions, including a link to information on how to create your own online registration form.

Online Summer 2020 Sacred Music Study

In a time when what the summer holds seems unclear, here’s something to look forward to! St. Joseph’s Seminary has made a transition of all summer classes to an online format, and you can take up to 13 graduate credits in sacred music. Classes are taught by Drs. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka, Crista Miller, and Timothy McDonnell.

More information and registration available here.

Principles of Sacred Music
Through a survey of the history of sacred music and reading of Church and papal legislation on sacred music, students gain an understanding of the principles which shape Western sacred music and the musical structure of the Roman rite. Special focus is placed on current documents which govern music in the Church. The course also features in-depth discussion of practical issues including the formation and management of sacred music programs in parishes, active participation, progressive solemnity, the use of instruments in the sacred liturgy, resources available for music directors and choristers, and other relevant topics. Asynchronous on-line June 1–July 26, synchronous (live) online July 27 and 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Fulfills course requirements for the St. Cecilia Academy certification. Taught by Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka.

Principles of Chant
Serving as an introduction to Gregorian chant, this course will cover neumatic notation, Gregorian modes, ear training and sight reading, vocal technique appropriate for singing chant, and Latin pronunciation. Special focus will be placed on rhythmic interpretation of the chant according to the classical Solesmes (Mocquereau) method. By the end of the class, students will have confidence singing from the Graduale Romanum, solfège, and psalm tones, and some experience in conducting (chironomy). Additional topics introduced in the class include the history of Gregorian chant, rehearsal techniques for teaching chant to children and adult choirs, and an introduction to chant resources in English and Spanish. Synchronous (live) online July 13–17, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Fulfills course requirements for the St. Cecilia Academy certification. Taught by Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka.

Teaching Gregorian Chant to Children
This 5-day intensive course will present pedagogical techniques for teaching Gregorian chant to children and is ideal for Catholic schoolteachers, directors and teachers of religious education, directors of children’s choirs, and parents. Special emphasis will be placed on the Ward Method, a comprehensive music education method designed to teach sacred music to children. Other topics addressed will include resources for teachers, other teaching approaches, and the logistics of developing a sacred music program for children. Synchronous (live) online July 20–24, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Taught by Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka.

Conducting and Group Vocal Pedagogy for the Parish Music Director
Strategies and practice in conducting and teaching healthy vocal production to amateur singers. Synchronous (live) online July 29–31, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Taught by Dr. Timothy McDonnell.

Introduction to the Organ for Pianists
Essential knowledge and practice with registration, good technique, pedaling, hymn- and service-playing, and appropriate repertoire. Synchronous (live) online August 3–7, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 3:00-6:00 p.m. Taught by Dr. Crista Miller.

Tuition
50 % discount for 1st-time students or musicians in the St. Cecilia Academy for Pastoral Musicians.
The St. Cecilia Academy is open to all parish and school musicians who obtain a letter of support from their pastor.
Full price: $500 to audit, $500 per credit hour (some classes are 2 credits, others are 3 credits)

Brochure available here. 

FAQ here. 

Faculty

Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka is an Associate Professor and the Director of Sacred Music at St. Joseph’s Seminary. Her scholarly and practical expertise lies in Gregorian chant and the Church’s teachings on sacred music. She has served as the president of the Society for Catholic Liturgy (SCL), and is currently on the board of the SCL and the Church Music Association of America (CMAA). Dr. Donelson-Nowicka is the managing editor of the CMAA’s quarterly journal Sacred Music, and is a consultant to the USCCB’s Committee on Divine Worship. She directs the Metropolitan Catholic Chorale, which she founded, as well as the St. Joseph’s Seminary Schola Cantorum. She is on the faculty of Cardinal Kung Academy in Stamford, CT, and teaches Gregorian chant to children using the Ward method in both Pelham and Sleepy Hollow, NY. Having given workshops in parishes, dioceses, and monasteries around the world, she also co-hosts Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast. 

 

Dr. Timothy McDonnell is Director of Choral Activities at the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at The Catholic University of America. Widely recognized for his broad skill set and musicianship, conductor-composer McDonnell has earned a reputation for creativity and leadership on and off the podium. Dr. McDonnell has led several distinguished ensembles, including the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, and the Collier County Sinfonietta, and has worked with some of the most renowned conductors in the world, including Gustavo Dudamel, Andrey Boreyko, Carlos Miguel Prieto, Cristian Macelaru, and Robert Page. Having worked with a variety of university and professional ensembles throughout the world, Dr. McDonnell’s performances have won national recognition. In 2013 McDonnell was a finalist for the American Prize in choral conducting for his performance of Mozart’s Requiem, and in 2014 he took third place in the 2014 American Prize for his performance of Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem. 

Dr. Crista Miller is the Director of Music and Organist at Houston’s Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, where she directs the adult and children’s choirs and the concert series. Her Organ Committee was responsible for Martin Pasi’s 2010 Opus 19 organ. Her recent double-CD Bonjour and Willkommen: A Franco-German Debut (Acis Productions) has been hailed by Gramophone Magazine for “superlative artistry . . . and musical intelligence.” Dr. Miller has performed in 11 countries and 26 states, and is an engaging conference presenter. Her research on Naji Hakim’s music appears in the 2014 book Mystic Modern: The Music, Thought, and Legacy of Charles Tournemire and in December 2015’s ORGAN: Journal für die Orgel. Her students have served several parishes and successfully competed nataionally. Crista earned the DMA from the Eastman School of Music in 2006.  She continues to serve Eastman’s EROI in a leadership and research role.

CMAA Summer Chant Courses 2020

CMAA SUMMER COURSES
June 15-19, 2020
University of Florida | Gainesville, Florida

UPDATE: SUMMER COURSES CANCELLED DUE TO PANDEMIC

The CMAA is proud to present three summer courses for 2020. All courses will be held concurrently at the University of Florida (Gainesville) Music School. We are now accepting registration for the following three courses:

Advanced Chant and Semiology, Dr. Edward Schaefer, Instructor

Laus in Ecclesia – Level One, Kathy Reinheimer, Instructor

Laus in Ecclesia – Level Two, (Clear Creek Abbey), Br. Mark Bachmann, Instructor

For all the details, including class descriptions, schedule, housing and more go to: CMAA SUMMER COURSES – 2020

Register by March 1, 2020 for Early Registration rates.

ONLINE REGISTRATION (Univ. of Florida – Gainesville)

Sacred Liturgy Conference in Spokane, WA

Sacred Liturgy Conference June 9-12, 2020 in Spokane, WA

Schola Cantus Angelorum is pleased to announce the eighth annual Sacred Liturgy Conference to be held in Spokane Washington, June 9-12, 2020. It will take place on the campus of Gonzaga University, St Aloysius Catholic Church and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes.

This year’s theme is “Incarnation in the Eucharist”. We are overjoyed to have on our faculty His Eminence Gerhard Cardinal Müller. Cardinal Muller will give the keynote address and will celebrate the Pontifical Mass of Corpus Christi, Eucharistic Procession, and Benediction at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Other distinguished faculty members include: Rev. Cassian Folsom, OSB, Dr. John Haas, Dom Alcuin Reid, Mother Miriam of the Lamb of God, OSB, Rev. Pius Pietrzyk, OP, Rev. Gabriel Mosher, OP, Dr. Anthony Clark, Dr. Kevin Clarke, Dr. Edward Schaefer, Rev. Theodore Lange, Lucas Viar, Alex Begin and Doug Schneider.

The Sacred Liturgy Conference is the largest liturgical conference in North America with participants from all over the world. Our mission is to enrich our knowledge and understanding of the liturgy and to participate more deeply in the sacrificial offering of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Mass. The 2020 faculty will illuminate the Incarnation as inseparable from the Cross, Resurrection, and the Holy Eucharist. The four Masses will be celebrated in the two forms of the Roman Rite and in the Dominican Rite with sacred the music prescribed by the Church.

Come join us as we renew our appreciation and love for our Catholic Faith. To find out more specifics about the schedule, accommodations, and how to register for the conference go to sacredliturgyconference.org. You may also call (503) 558-5123 or email sacredliturgyconference@gmail.com. Space is limited and an “Early Bird Special” rate available through March 1, 2020.

Gregorian Chant Weekend at Clear Creek Abbey

Gregorian Chant Weekend

October 4-6, 2019

View from the Abbey

The Gregorian Chant Weekend is an opportunity for the faithful to sing Gregorian Chant at Holy Mass and in the Divine Office. Instruction is given through preparing to sing for the liturgy.  Beginners are welcome. The weekend begins Friday, October 4th, immediately following the monastic office of Vespers (at 6pm) in the crypt of the Abbey church. It ends with a picnic after 11:00 am Mass on Sunday.

The weekend will feature:
•       Compline sung Friday and Saturday night
•       Mass sung Saturday and Sunday morning
•       Conference on the history of Gregorian Hymns
•       Instruction throughout the day (beginning at 8:30am) with a break for lunch
•       Picnic after Sunday Mass

For more information, visit the Abbey website at clearcreekmonks.org or call the Abbey at (918) 772-2454.

CHANT WEEKEND FLYER

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE

Accommodations for women will be available in either Bethany House (as space allows) or the Log Cabin. Meals are not provided for those staying in the Log Cabin.

Accommodations for men will be in the Guesthouse of the new monastery, as well as in the oratory building of the old monastery.

Make plans now to attend the 2019 Chant Weekend at the Abbey!

Ukrainian Catholic Music Conference Sept 26-29

The Patriarchal Liturgical Commission of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church (UGCC) is organizing the second annual SingCon, a four-day music conference. This year the event will be held at St. Basil’s Seminary in Stamford, Connecticut September 26-29. Here’s a description:

Experience common prayer at liturgical services, including Vigil (Vespers and Matins) on Saturday evening and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning. Services will include various approaches to singing (congregational, choral, small ensembles) and be held in English with Ukrainian and Church Slavonic.

SingCon is a gathering of church singers of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) in North America to promote contact with one another (networking), to learn from experienced cantors and singers in our church, to share experience and solutions to current issues in church singing, and to pray together. SingCon is organized by the Patriarchal Liturgical Commission of the UGCC and in 2019 will be sponsored by the UGCC Eparchy of Stamford CT. Singers and faithful of other Churches are welcome! Registration is open to everyone regardless of ability. All are welcome and encouraged to participate in this exciting conference.

Participants will learn new music and take part in practice sessions in preparation for the liturgical services.

Led by experts from the UGCC, these practical workshops and lectures will be offered at both beginner and intermediate/ advanced levels, with the aim of advancing knowledge and helping to improve the quality of church singing. This will also be an opportunity for fellowship and networking among cantors, singers, choir directors, and clergy, to foster cooperation and growth. The workshops will explore church singing practices, and will take place in English.

For more information and to register visit: https://ugccmusic.com/singcon2019

Maine Sacred Music Conference – 1st Annual

On Friday, August 9, 2019, the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, in Lewiston, ME, will host the first Annual Maine Sacred Music Conference. Join Catholic musicians, religious, and lay people dedicated to the revival of the centuries-old commitment to beauty and reverence in Catholic liturgy as they explore the liturgical forms and practices that have long formed the foundation of Catholic worship.

The keynote speaker for the day will be Dr. Jennifer Donelson, director of the Schola Cantorum of St. Joseph’s Seminary (Dunwoodie) in New York, and the Metropolitan Catholic Chorale. Ms. Donelson is an associate professor and the director of sacred music at St. Joseph’s Seminary, where she also teaches sacred music courses in the St. Cecilia Academy for Pastoral Musicians. She is the President of the Society for Catholic Liturgy, serves on the board of the Church Music Association of America, and is the managing editor of the CMAA’s journal Sacred Music. She has published extensively on Gregorian chant, the sacred liturgy, and the music of Olivier Messiaen and Charles Tournemire, and has served as the organizer for numerous conferences on these and related topics, including the 2015 Sacra Liturgia conference in New York.

Morning lecture topics will include an introduction to the Catholic liturgical tradition and the spirituality of Gregorian Chant, while afternoon workshops will be dedicated to the practical, teaching and learning Gregorian chant and introducing it to parishes. The day will end with a traditional Latin Mass celebrated in the Basilica’s Upper Church.

For more information about registration and schedule, contact Scott Vaillancourt at scott.vaillancourt@portlanddiocese.org

CMAA Summer 2019 Chant Courses

June 24-28, 2019
Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA

UPDATE: ONLINE REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.

The CMAA is proud to present two summer courses for 2019. Both courses will be held concurrently at the Mary Pappert Music School at Duquesne University.

Chant Intensive

Instructor Jeffrey Morse

A five-day practical experience for beginners and intermediate chant singers

Laus in Ecclesia

Instructor Br. Mark Bachmann, OSB, choirmaster at Clear Creek Abbey

An in-depth exploration for beginners, the first part of a three-level program to train chant singers and conductors

More details on both courses:

HELPFUL LINKS

Read more ...

The 29th Sacred Music Colloquium (2019)

“Six Days of Musical Heaven”

July 1 – 6, 2019
Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

More information on the Sacred Music Colloquium…

The Church Music Association of America is proud to invite you to celebrate with us as we hold our 29th Colloquium in 2019, to be held at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The CMAA’s Sacred Music Colloquium continues to be the largest and most in-depth teaching conference and retreat on sacred music in the world. Our 2019 program offers new and expanded opportunities for learning, singing, listening, and interacting with some of the best minds and musicians in the Catholic world today! All liturgies will be held at the Basilica.

The CMAA Colloquium is primarily focused on instruction and experience in chant and the Catholic sacred music tradition, participation in chant choirs, lectures and performances and daily liturgies. During the week, you’ll be able to participate in ordinary and extraordinary form Masses, in Latin, Latin/Spanish and English, Vespers, and daily sung morning and night prayer.

As a participant, you are an integral part of the beautiful music from the Roman Catholic tradition. Experience not only the traditional Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony of the church’s musical treasure, but also new compositions of English propers and ordinaries by various composers, as well as modern motets. For the second year, the Sacred Music Colloquium will also offer Mass in Spanish, with Spanish propers and a Latin Ordinary for our Thursday liturgy.

Read on…

Sacred Music Symposium in British Columbia, July 20-22, 2018

News has come to us of a fine project in western Canada: SS. Joachim and Ann Parish in Aldergrove, B.C., near Vancouver, is hosting an educational and practical conference on sacred music in July. For information on the B.C. Sacred Music Symposium, see their website and check out the video.

Southeastern Sacred Music Workshop 2018: Charlotte, NC, July 27-28

The fourth annual Southeastern Summer Sacred Music Workshop will take place in Charlotte, N.C., on Friday, July 27, and Saturday, July 28, 2018. This year’s workshop is to be hosted by the Cathedral of St. Patrick, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte 28203.

Singers, organists, clergy, and laity alike will come from all over the Southeastern United States to learn and sing Gregorian chant and polyphonic music.

Participants will have the opportunity to join a chant group and motet ensemble of their choosing, from beginner to advanced. The event will culminate with a sung liturgy Saturday afternoon.

Breakout courses will be offered on a variety of topics of interest to music directors, singers, organists, and clergy.

The $75 registration fee covers all materials as well as a light breakfast and lunch on Saturday.

The complete list of faculty in alphabetical order:
Rev. Fr. Charles Byrd-Chaplain and Break-out session presenter
Gianfranco DeLuca-organ
Kevin Faulkner-Experienced Men’s Chant Director
Tiffany Gallozzi-Chant Fundamentals/Novice Chant Director
Alex Hill-Break-out Session presenter
Tom Savoy-Polyphony Choir Director
Bridget Scott-Advanced Women’s Chant Director

Voice instructors: Jonathan Eason and Maria McDaniel Willathgamuwa will be available for private lessons as well as presenting individual break-out sessions.

There will be numerous break-out sessions from which to choose, including: “Elevating Spanish Liturgy without Killing the Culture”, “Getting the Most and the Best from a Small Parish Choir”, “Why We Sing: The Historical Precedent for Liturgical Singers”, “It’s about the Future: Forming Children in the Faith Through Children’s Choirs”, Organ Master Class with Gianfranco DeLuca, and private voice lessons will be available.

Bishop Peter Joseph Jugis, JCD, Diocese of Charlotte, will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the concluding Mass.

Click to reserve a hotel room at the Courtyard Charlotte City Center at the group rate of $129 per night. To receive the group rate, reserve your room by June 27.

For all the details, including faculty bios, visit their website here: SOUTHEASTERN SACRED MUSIC

We hope to see you there!

Online registration and payment are available now. Participants may also pay by check, if preferred.

More information on events is at our past events archive page.

Keep in touch

Archives