Also See:
- Mater Dei Choir Blog – Learn about the upcoming music for Holy Days and special liturgical celebrations
- Mater Dei Choir Recordings Library – Find MP3s of our choral ensembles to download and enjoy!
ADULT CHORAL GROUPS:
The Mater Dei Choir
The Mater Dei Choir is one of the first organizations developed for service with the Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite Mass. Our primary purpose is to praise and glorify almighty God through the use of Sacred Music. We also honor Mary and the Saints and help beautify the Liturgical worship through our singing.
Since Sacred Music is an integral part of the Liturgy, the Mater Dei Choral Ensembles continue to preserve our great Treasury of Chant and Polyphony and encourage all the faithful to take an active part in singing together, in Latin, the Ordinary of the Mass.
Rehearsals are every WEDNESDAY evening from 7:30pm – 9:30pm.
A simple audition to meet you, determine voice range, and present musical ability is required.
When available, any of the choirs would be willing to sing for Weddings and Funerals as well.
Schola Marianum
Schola Marianum is a smaller ensemble of 10-16 voices, to sing more complex works of polyphony and Gregorian chants. Much attention is given to pitch, blend, and interpretation, learning to pray what we sing. The schola also forms the core of singers for chanting Tenebrae during Holy Week, and divides the musical repertoire on feast days with the Mater Dei Choir, so that the best musical offering can be given to God on Holy days.
Some sightreading ability and experience singing polyphony is preferred.
Rehearsals are on Sundays 11:00 am – 12:30pm.
For Interest in Either Adult Choral Ensemble, Please Contact:
Michael Chase Fowler, MM – Music Director
musicdirector@materdeiparish.com
903-870-6562
MEN & BOYS CHOIRS:
Schola Gregoriana (men)
The role of the men’s schola is to sing the majority of the Gregorian propers for every Sunday and feast day. They also often sing for the funerals at the parish, and sing once a month on their own for Sunday high mass. We especially encourage any men with a good voice to consider joining the schola.
Rehearsals are Wednesdays 6:30pm-7:15pm, and Sundays 8-8:45am
St. Gregory Choir
The St. Gregory Choir is an all-boys treble choir about ages 7-13, that sings once per liturgical season in conjunction with Schola Augustini and the men’s schola, to form the Mater Dei Men and Boys Choir program.
This choir will work toward vocal development in the english choral tradition for boy choristers. Members will wear cassock and surplice when singing for mass.
Rehearsals involve learning latin pronunciation for singing, proper vocal technique, and basics of music notation in both chant and modern notation.
Repertoire will range from chant hymns to polyphonic works.
Rehearsals are late August – early May on Thursdays, 4:30 – 5:30pm
Schola Augustini
Schola Augustini is for young men with changed voices, roughly ages 14-18. They will sing in conjunction with the St. Gregory choir and members of the men’s schola.
Members will wear cassock and surplice when singing for mass.
These older boys will be challenged to learn more in-depth music theory and notation (both chant and modern), better vocal technique, and part-singing.
Their repertoire will involve hymns, full gregorian chant propers, choral motets and possibly choral mass settings, to be learned in collaboration with the St. Gregory Choir to sing at high mass once per liturgical season.
Rehearsals are late August – early May on Thursdays, 5:30 – 6:30pm.
FOR INTEREST IN ANY OF THE MEN OR BOYS CHOIRS, PLEASE CONTACT:
Michael Chase Fowler, MM
musicdirector@materdeiparish.com
903-870-6562
WOMEN & GIRLS CHOIRS:
St. Hildegard Schola (women)
The women’s schola aids the men’s schola to ensure that the full propers are sung every Sunday and feast day. This schola normally sings the gradual/tract and Alleluia for every Sunday.
Rehearsals are on Sundays, 8:15am-8:45am
St. Cecilia Choir
The St. Cecilia Choir is an all-girls choir ages 6-10 that sings 4-5 times per year, for some Marian processions, the Christmas pageant, and a couple times for high mass during the festive seasons, in conjunction with the St. Maria Goretti Choir.
Their music repertoire includes seasonal hymns, chants, and simple choral music sung in collaboration with the older girls choir.
Rehearsals involve learning latin pronunciation for singing, and basics of music notation in both chant and modern notation, with a more interactive music education approach suitable for their age.
Rehearsals are late August – early May on Thursdays, 4:30 – 5:15pm.
St. Maria Goretti Choir
The St. Maria Goretti choir is for young ladies ages 11-18 that sings 5-6 times per year.
This older girls choir will be challenged to learn more in-depth music theory and notation (both chant and modern), better vocal technique, and part-singing.
Their repertoire will involve hymns, full gregorian chant propers, choral motets and choral mass settings to sing at several, specific feast days throughout the year.
Rehearsals are late August – early May on Thursdays, 5:15 – 6:30pm.
FOR INTEREST IN ANY OF THE WOMEN OR GIRLS CHOIRS, PLEASE CONTACT:
Mrs. Kimberly Walters – Assistant Music Director
music.assistant@materdeiparish.com
817-975-2934
