Get Involved!
Bell Choir
Our bell choir is comprised of a small group of dedicated musicians! It is our intention within the next few months to expand this ensemble to include addition musicians and instruments! The Bell Choir will play for one Mass per month, as well as Christmas, Easter and special events throughout the year. This ensemble is open to members in high school and beyond! Rehearsal days and time will be set once we have an idea as to who will be involved.
If you are interested in participating in this group, please contact Cynthia Ramsdell at [email protected]
Cantor
Cantor - The role of a cantor is to lead our Parish in active worship. This auditioned and trained position participates at all weekend and Holy Day liturgies and is an integral aspect of each Mass. Cantors are encouraged to participate in additional music ensembles, but it is not required. We are in great need of adding additional musicians to our cantor roster - starting now! High School students and beyond are encouraged to audition for this role. Individuals will be required to sing at a minimum of one Mass per month.
If you are interested in serving our Parish as a cantor, please contact Ryan Neal at [email protected]
Christmas and Holy Week Choirs
This short-term time commitment choirs meet for only 6 regular rehearsals and one dress rehearsal before Christmas Eve and Holy Week. Open to any parishioner in high school and beyond, rehearsals are held on Sunday evenings. Participants are asked to attend no less than 4 of the regular rehearsals and the mandatory dress rehearsal held the week of each holiday. If you have ever wanted to sing with a live orchestra, here is your chance! We would love to have a choir of 70 for both holidays this year!
If you are interested in participating in this group, please contact Ryan Neal at [email protected]
Contemporary Ensemble
The new Contemporary Ensemble is open to vocalists and instrumentalists in high school and beyond. This group will accompany one or two Masses each month, primarily at our Main Church. The scope of this group will be determined by those that would like to participate. If you like to sing, or play an instrument (strings, brass, reeds, guitars and percussion!) we would love to have you join us. Depending on interest, small ensembles may also be created out of this group! Rehearsals will be held on Thursday evenings at 7 PM in the Main Church, beginning September 16, 2021.
If you are interested in participating in this ensemble, please contact Ryan Neal at [email protected]
Family Choir
This new ensemble will sing once a month throughout the entire Church year with minimal rehearsals and is intended to be a multi-generational, family ensemble. Family Choir will rehearse on the first Wednesday of each month from 7:00-8:00 PM with the Parish Choir and then on Sunday mornings during summer months. The first rehearsal will be on Wednesday, October 6, 2021.
If you are interested in participating in this group, please contact Cynthia Ramsdell at [email protected]
Funeral Choir
One of most impactful ensembles, the funeral choir sings at funeral Masses for deceased parishioners. While this group does not regularly rehearse, there will be several simple, short rehearsals to learn regularly chosen music. This group is wonderful for stay-at-home parents and those who are retired as funerals tend to be celebrated in the morning. We would love to have 20-30 members for this ensemble, as attendance fluctuates based on member's availability.
If you are interested in participating in this group, please contact Ryan Neal at [email protected]
Instrumentalists
Solo and small group instrumentalists are encouraged to share their gifts with our Parish by playing at Masses. Individuals will be asked to complete a simple audition. Individuals in high school and beyond are invited to play! All instruments are encouraged!
If you are interested in playing an instrument for our Parish, please contact Ryan Neal at [email protected]
Parish Choir
The Parish Choir is open to all singers in high school and beyond and serves as our primary vocal ensemble. This group will sing once or twice a month at BOTH churches! No auditions are required for participation, but a simple vocal test to determine range and section placement will be administrated. Rehearsals are held on WEDNESDAY evenings from 7:00 - 9:00 PM in the Main Church, beginning September 8, 2021. We encourage all to join this group as we would love to have a group of singers numbering 50 or more! The Parish Choir will also sing at Holy Day Masses as well as special events throughout the year.
If you are interested in participating in this group, please contact Ryan Neal at [email protected]
Schola Cantorum
This four-part auditioned vocal ensemble will sing for special events, Holy Days, Tenebrae, Holy Week and Diocesan events throughout the year. This ensemble will sing more traditional than other vocal ensembles. Auditions will be held on August 24 and 25, 2021. In addition, the Schola Cantorum will eventually participate in our Masses in Extraordinary Form.
If you are interested in auditioning for this group, please contact Ryan Neal at [email protected]
Youth Choir
The Youth Choir is open to our young singers in the Parish, grades 3-8. Youth Choir rehearses on Wednesday afternoons from 4-5:15 in the Main Church, beginning September 15, 2021. In addition to singing one Mass per month, Youth Choir will sing at the 4:00 PM Christmas Eve Mass and at one Easter Mass. In addition to singing for Masses, students will also learn basic musicianship skills such as proper vocal technique and music reading.
If you are interested in having your child participate in this ensemble, please contact Ryan Neal at [email protected]
Artist in Residence Weekend
As part of the newly developed concert series, St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish will host a composer and director for a weekend each year. For this inaugural event, we are thrilled to welcome composer Craig Courtney to our Parish on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Mr. Courtney is an internationally known composer, pianist and conductor. We will form a festival choir, open to any Parishioner in high school and beyond, churches throughout Hancock County and our Diocese to sing in concert at 7:00 PM that night. Several rehearsals will be scheduled this winter in preparation for this event. An all day rehearsal will occur on March 19, with lunch and dinner provided.
If you are interested in participating in this weekend, please contact Ryan Neal at [email protected]
For information regarding the Music Ministry at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish, please contact the Director of Sacred Liturgy and Music, Ryan Neal, at 419.422.2646 or [email protected]