Music Ministry
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St. Joseph Music Ministry

The USCCB tells us in its document Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship that “God has bestowed upon his people the gift of song. God dwells within each human person, in the place where music takes its source. Indeed, God, the giver of song, is present whenever his people sing his praises.”  St. Joseph Church is certainly filled with God’s presence as the pews proclaim his praises week after week.  Your singing as a member of the congregation is very inspiring to those of us leading the music, but we would love for you to consider offering up your voice in one of our choirs.  One new singer joining the choir is not just an additional voice; it lifts up every other member as well!  Please look at the descriptions of all of our choirs to see where you might fit best.

• Calista and Jeremy Martin Praying Psalm 130- Click Here to Listen
• Psalm 22 Recording- Click Here to Listen
• Pslam 22 Recording with Flute with Donna Langer and Barbara Leyden- Click Here to Listen 
• Elaine Fox and Daryl Currie- Ave Maria, Schubert- Click Here to Listen 
• Barbara Leyden singing Two Were Bound for Emmaus  by Bob Hurd.  Recording permission OneLicense.net #733319-A- Click Here to Listen
• “Pie Jesu” from Faure’s Requiem, Barbara Leyden piano and vocalist- Click Here to Listen 

Adult Choirs:

Adult Choir

The Adult Choir has provided music for the 10:30am Mass for decades with Mike Malinowski providing accompaniment for 40 years.  This ensemble rehearses on Monday evenings at 7pm and sings at two to three Masses per month with a warm-up before each Mass.  While there is an extensive SATB repertoire from which the choir draws its selections, an effort is made to introduce new music regularly.

Hosanna

Hosanna provides music for the 9am Mass and rehearses on Wednesdays at 7pm.  Begun with a cohort of guitarists in the 90s, Hosanna has developed into St. Joseph’s ensemble featuring more than keyboard accompaniment.  Guitar, winds, and sometimes strings or percussion regularly enhance the SATB choir’s worship.  While the presentation of certain pieces can be more “contemporary,” selections from traditional hymnody or even Renaissance polyphony round out the choir’s repertoire.

Resurrection Choir

Our parish funeral choir sings throughout the year for funerals when requested by the family.  The members give of their time and talent to lead the funeral assembly in sung prayer and to bring comfort and care to the grieving families.  It is a wonderful expression of the corporal work of mercy and a great way to serve.  You will be contacted by email when a funeral is scheduled, and members come as often as they are available.  Before each funeral, a thirty-minute warm-up also serves as a rehearsal time for new repertoire from our hymnal.  With upwards of sixty funerals a year, it is very helpful to have a large group of singers from which to draw.

St. Joe Small Ensemble (SATB) and women’s trio

The Small Ensemble and Women’s Trio provide music at special Masses and occasions.  These groups are joined by audition only and learn music very quickly as needed.  Currently all members are active in other facets of music ministry, but this is an option for those who may have the talent but not the time available for one of the choirs.

Awesome Angels

St. Joseph’s children’s choir, the Awesome Angels, sings at Mass once a month during the school year and rehearses on Mondays after school from 3:30pm to 4:30pm.  Students from 1^st through 8^th grade are invited to sing and learn about their Catholic faith through song.  There is a need to establish the idea of ministry at a young age, and the children’s choir is a fun outlet to combine creativity, service, and the faith.

Cantors

The role of the cantor is especially important to our parish.  With such a strong-singing congregation, the cantor is not meant to be a soloist by any means.  A confident voice is needed to best provide an example to the rest of the gathered assembly.  Proclaiming the Word of God through the psalm is another privilege of the cantor.

Keyboard Players

Organists and pianists are critical to our weekend Masses, Feast Days and weekly Novena liturgy.  Contact Matt Winterhalter if you are able to serve the parish in this way. Please consider providing piano or organ lessons for your child, or learning the instruments yourself, as there is a shortage of trained liturgical keyboardists in the American Catholic Church.  Trained pianists may be eligible for an organ scholarship.