The Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist

Choirs at St. John’s

Music is a very important part of the liturgical life of St. John’s. A rich program of sacred music has proven to have helped many Catholics rediscover a profound sense of the sacred. Sacred music being the “handmaid of the liturgy”, we here at St. John’s make every effort to follow the teachings of the Church on sacred music. The parish choirs include:

The Sunday 10:00 AM Volunteer Choir

This newly-formed choir of adult men and women and teens sings for the 10:00 AM Family Mass each Sunday. Hymns, Latin chants and motets are sung to enrich the Sacrifice of the Mass and to lead the faithful in song. Rehearsals are held each Sunday from 8:15 AM up to start of the Mass. Combining with the Children’s Choir each week, this beautiful blend of voices offers not only an opportunity to sing side-by-side with the youth of the parish but also a time and place for parents and their children to worship and sing together. Typical repertory might include English hymns, a Latin Gregorian chant Kyrie and Gloria, and polyphonic music of the Renaissance or Classical periods. All adults and teens are welcome!

The Children’s Choir

Here at St. John’s, we feel strongly that the involvement of children through various ministries in the Church can reinforce the importance of Mass in their lives as young Catholics. Through their time and hard work, these young people to contribute to the parish in a very positive way through the ministry of music. Music is an area of our liturgical life upon which we place tremendous emphasis – providing music for Mass by singing is not only a gift to God, but a service to the worshipping community. When done well, music sacred can lift hearts and minds to the Almighty. Each Sunday, from September through May, the Children’s Choir, joined by the Adult Choir, sings fro the 10:00 A.M. Family Mass. Before Mass, there is a rehearsal at 9:30 in the choir room. If your child is in our Religious Education program, he or she will be let out of class early to join the rehearsal. Additionally, there is a mandatory rehearsal each Saturday from 1:00 to 1:45 P.M. all children ages seven through twelve who are willing to make a weekly commitment are gladly welcomed into our Children’s Choir. There is no charge for any child in the choir. If you have any questions, please contact Christopher Mueller at 324-1553, ext. 18, or info@benesonarium.com.

The High Mass Choir — Schola Polyphonica

The Schola Polyphonica is Connecticut’s senior professional Catholic church choir and sings for all the major liturgies at St. John’s. Comprising some of New York and Connecticut’s leading ensemble singers, the choir is well renowned. Its working repertoire covers all aspects and periods of music of the Latin Rite from Gregorian chant to the present day with special emphasis on 16th and 17th century polyphony. Maintaining this tradition of public worship to the glory of God lies at the heart of the parish’s work. St. John’s is well recognized as one of the outstanding custodians of classic Roman Catholic liturgical traditions. High Mass in the New Rite is celebrated on all Sundays and many feasts throughout the year. In particular, the great liturgies of Christmas, Holy Week and Easter attract packed-out congregations. To serve the liturgy the priests of St. John’s have fostered a unique musical establishment, comprising three separate choirs plus a professional music staff. in 2012 Christopher Mueller was appointed Organist & Choirmaster, assuming overall responsibility for developing a choral tradition and especially a professional choir, which under his direction remains among the finest mixed-voice choirs in the northeast. Mr. Mueller comes to St. John’s from the Church of Notre Dame in New York City, where he has been the Director of Music for both the parish and the Columbia University Catholic Ministry since 1999. His all-volunteer choir at the parish sings Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony, and the choir of students and alums at Columbia sings from the newly-published Simple English Propers. He is very grateful to have spent so many years offering beautiful music in the service of Our Lord and his liturgy, and he eagerly anticipates bringing that same beauty and reverence to the Basilica. He asks for your prayers as he begins his work here.
If you have any questions about the music program at St. John’s, please contact Christopher Mueller at 324-1553, ext. 18, or info@benesonarium.com.