"The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater than that of any other art."
— Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1156
— Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1156
The music program at St. Gertrude Church is rooted in the ancient Roman Catholic tradition, beautifying the liturgy and drawing the hearts and minds of the faithful to God. Through singing, our choristers develop a lifelong love of sacred music and serving the Church.
Below is a list of which choirs sing during our regularly scheduled Masses during the academic year:
Below is a list of which choirs sing during our regularly scheduled Masses during the academic year:
Weekend Masses
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. — Professional cantor and organist
Sunday, 8 a.m. — Spoken Mass
Sunday, 10 a.m. — Parish Choir
Sunday, 12 p.m. — Schola Cantorum
Sunday, 6 p.m. — Laudare
Daily Masses
7 and 8 a.m. — Spoken Masses
11:30 a.m. — Novitiate Choir
Other Liturgies
Dominican Rite — Capella
7 p.m. on Holy Days — Parish Choir
Funerals — Resurrection Choir
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. — Professional cantor and organist
Sunday, 8 a.m. — Spoken Mass
Sunday, 10 a.m. — Parish Choir
Sunday, 12 p.m. — Schola Cantorum
Sunday, 6 p.m. — Laudare
Daily Masses
7 and 8 a.m. — Spoken Masses
11:30 a.m. — Novitiate Choir
Other Liturgies
Dominican Rite — Capella
7 p.m. on Holy Days — Parish Choir
Funerals — Resurrection Choir
Learn more about each of our choirs below.
Parish Choir (Adults, Choral Scholars, Grades 9-12)
Directed by Christopher Holman
The Parish Choir is a group of 20 volunteer singers, high school Choral Scholars, and eight professional section leaders that sings at the 10 a.m. Sunday Mass and for major feasts, Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter. This choir sings the full breadth of the Church's musical tradition, from medieval plainchant to newly composed works. The Parish Choir is not only a musical outlet for those who love to sing and learn more about music but also an apostolate by which we help bring the beauty and richness of our Catholic musical heritage to life in the modern world.
Directed by Christopher Holman
The Parish Choir is a group of 20 volunteer singers, high school Choral Scholars, and eight professional section leaders that sings at the 10 a.m. Sunday Mass and for major feasts, Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter. This choir sings the full breadth of the Church's musical tradition, from medieval plainchant to newly composed works. The Parish Choir is not only a musical outlet for those who love to sing and learn more about music but also an apostolate by which we help bring the beauty and richness of our Catholic musical heritage to life in the modern world.
Schola Cantorum (Ages 8-13, Choral Scholars, Adults)
Directed by Christopher Holman
The Schola Cantorum (School of Singing) is a mixed-voice ensemble that consists of children ages 8–13, professional singers from the Cincinnati area, and our high school Choral Scholars. This special choir, unique in the Cincinnati area, is founded on the Church's ancient tradition of choral training: children sing the soprano line while professional singers and our choral scholars sing the alto, tenor, and bass parts. The Schola Cantorum sings weekly at St. Gertrude Church's 12 p.m. Sunday Mass and for major feasts.
Directed by Christopher Holman
The Schola Cantorum (School of Singing) is a mixed-voice ensemble that consists of children ages 8–13, professional singers from the Cincinnati area, and our high school Choral Scholars. This special choir, unique in the Cincinnati area, is founded on the Church's ancient tradition of choral training: children sing the soprano line while professional singers and our choral scholars sing the alto, tenor, and bass parts. The Schola Cantorum sings weekly at St. Gertrude Church's 12 p.m. Sunday Mass and for major feasts.
Capella (Adults)
Directed by Christopher Holman
The Capella is St. Gertrude Church’s professional mixed-voice choir, presenting the Church’s treasury of sacred music for solemnities, major feasts during the week, and at Masses celebrated according to the medieval Dominican Rite.
Directed by Christopher Holman
The Capella is St. Gertrude Church’s professional mixed-voice choir, presenting the Church’s treasury of sacred music for solemnities, major feasts during the week, and at Masses celebrated according to the medieval Dominican Rite.
Choral Scholars (Grades 9-12)
St. Gertrude Church's Choral Scholars are high school students who are pursuing rigorous vocal training by singing the great music of the Church in the Parish Choir and Schola Cantorum on a weekly basis. Each Choral Scholar receives a scholarship worth $3,300, which includes a monetary award, free weekly voice lessons, and more.
St. Gertrude Church's Choral Scholars are high school students who are pursuing rigorous vocal training by singing the great music of the Church in the Parish Choir and Schola Cantorum on a weekly basis. Each Choral Scholar receives a scholarship worth $3,300, which includes a monetary award, free weekly voice lessons, and more.
Collegium (Grades 9-12)
Directed by Christopher Holman
The Collegium is St. Gertrude Church’s choir for high school students, which sings occasionally for the 12 p.m. Sunday Mass when the Schola Cantorum is off. The choir focuses primarily on singing plainchant and simple motets.
Directed by Christopher Holman
The Collegium is St. Gertrude Church’s choir for high school students, which sings occasionally for the 12 p.m. Sunday Mass when the Schola Cantorum is off. The choir focuses primarily on singing plainchant and simple motets.
Novitiate Choir (Dominican Novices)
Directed by our Dominican Novices
Men who are discerning a vocation to religious life and the priesthood in the Dominican Province of St. Joseph spend their first year as novices at St. Gertrude Priory. As part of their spiritual and intellectual formation, the brothers sing in public for the 11:30 a.m. conventual Mass and Midday Prayer most weekdays, and for major special liturgies throughout the year, including Advent Lessons and Carols and Tenebrae.
Directed by our Dominican Novices
Men who are discerning a vocation to religious life and the priesthood in the Dominican Province of St. Joseph spend their first year as novices at St. Gertrude Priory. As part of their spiritual and intellectual formation, the brothers sing in public for the 11:30 a.m. conventual Mass and Midday Prayer most weekdays, and for major special liturgies throughout the year, including Advent Lessons and Carols and Tenebrae.
Laudare (Adults)
Directed by Paul Kindt
Laudare is an ensemble of singers and instrumentalists who provide music for the 6 p.m. Sunday Mass, balancing timeless traditional hymns with music by contemporary liturgical composers.
Directed by Paul Kindt
Laudare is an ensemble of singers and instrumentalists who provide music for the 6 p.m. Sunday Mass, balancing timeless traditional hymns with music by contemporary liturgical composers.
Resurrection Choir (Adults)
Directed by Christopher Holman
The Resurrection Choir is a group of 20 volunteer women singers who serve the St. Gertrude Church community by singing at funeral liturgies throughout the year. This very special ministry provides comfort and solace at some of the most difficult times in parishioners' lives. When the need for this choir arises, members are contacted and they sing if they are available. Most funerals have between 10 and 12 singers.
Directed by Christopher Holman
The Resurrection Choir is a group of 20 volunteer women singers who serve the St. Gertrude Church community by singing at funeral liturgies throughout the year. This very special ministry provides comfort and solace at some of the most difficult times in parishioners' lives. When the need for this choir arises, members are contacted and they sing if they are available. Most funerals have between 10 and 12 singers.
Contact
If you have any questions, would like to learn more, or are interested in joining any of the choirs, please contact Christopher Holman, director of music, at (513) 561-5954, ext. 2213, or [email protected].
