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Choirs and Ensembles

"All which isn't singing is mere talking. If what calls itself a world should have the luck to hear such singing everyone certainly would believe in nothing but love."

e.e. cummings

Two hundred musicians ages 6 to 96 participate in one or more of our seven choirs and ensembles. Our three children’s choirs, drawing first through eighth graders from all over the New York City metro area, make a substantial contribution to the worship and cultural life of our parish. Two of our three adult volunteer choirs have a regular weekly liturgical presence: the Wallace Hall Choir and Orchestra at the Family Mass, and Canticum Sacrum at the 7.30 PM Mass. The 50-voice Parish Community Choir sings in various liturgies and concerts throughout the year, and our critically acclaimed professional Choir of St. Ignatius Loyola is the resident ensemble at our Solemn Mass.

“Please know how absolutely precious the St. Ignatius music ministry is to me. It’s a lifeline in these times!”

Christine Meyer, Wallace Hall Choir

ADULT CHOIRS

The Choir of St. Ignatius Loyola, K. Scott Warren, Director

Hailed by The New York Times as a "finely polished, stylistically nimble ensemble" and Opera News as "a wondrous ensemble", the Choir of St. Ignatius Loyola is comprised of some of New York's finest professional singers. The core group of 19 singers has command over a wide range of repertoire, from Gregorian chant to contemporary literature.  The Choir expands as needed for the Concerts at St. Ignatius, Park Avenue series. Each singer is a soloist in his or her own right in a variety of genres including early music, opera, oratorio, contemporary, and pop repertoire. The Choir may be heard on recordings for the MSR Classics and AMDG labels.

To express interest in joining the Choir of St. Ignatius Loyola, experienced professional singers with advanced degrees in voice performance or commensurate experience should send resumes and sound clips to the email below.

Auditions are held as needed. [email protected]

Members of the Choir of St. Ignatius Loyola

Rise Up, My Love, My Fair One

Featuring the Choir of St. Ignatius Loyola and K. Scott Warren, Director of Music Ministries

Watch video

Wallace Hall Choir and Orchestra, Michael Sheetz, Director

The Wallace Hall Choir & Orchestra ministers to the weekly 11 AM Family Mass at the Church St. Ignatius Loyola. This ensemble features our avocational, volunteer singers and instrumentalists in musical styles that range from classical, contemporary classical, pop, folk, and gospel in weekly Masses and yearly concerts.

We gather Sunday mornings from September through June in rehearsal from 9:45-10:45 AM to prepare for our participation as the worship choir for the 11:00 AM Wallace Hall Family Mass. All are encouraged to audition and contribute to the joyful musical spirit of this ministry. 

For more information, contact [email protected].

“Once a week, we have had the ability to interact with each other, sing comforting music and pray. It has kept the community feeling alive, but more importantly, has given another outlet for prayer.”

Simone Vinocour, Wallace Hall Choir

Canticum Sacrum, Michael Sheetz, Director

Canticum Sacrum welcomes intermediate to advanced level adult avocational singers with the goal of enriching shared musical understanding and growth. We are a 15-20 member chamber chorus that ministers weekly to the Sunday evening 7:30 PM Mass in a blend of classical and contemporary styles.  

Stylistic interpretation and historical performance practices are explored through singing varied repertoire in diverse styles. Gregorian chant, medieval motets, Renaissance madrigals,  classical masses, and other twenty and twenty-first-century sacred repertoire will be explored in weekly Sunday evening rehearsals from 6-7 PM in the Church.

 All interested singers are encouraged to audition.

For more information, contact [email protected].

An American Requiem | Performed by Canticum Sacrum

Watch Video

Parish Community Choir, Robert Reuter, Director

As one of the longest-running continuous ministries at St. Ignatius, our 50-voice Parish Community Choir draws avocational singers from within and outside the parish, singing at various Masses and concerts throughout the year. We focus on vocal training and musical development and have a lot of fun in the process! 

For more information, contact [email protected].

CHILDREN'S CHOIRS

Maureen Haley, Director

Over 50 families are enrolled in our children's choir program, where our kids receive training in the art of singing, reading music, and the fundamentals of music theory. Through their hard work and dedication, choristers develop a passionate commitment to excellence through the choral art and learn self-discipline, confidence, and the importance of giving back to their church and community through the gift of music. Informal auditions take place in the spring and by appointment in the fall.

For more information, please contact Maureen Haley at [email protected].

Training Choir

Younger children (grades 1-2) with little or no previous musical experience develop a healthy beginning vocal technique, gain familiarity with the liturgy, and focus on the fundamentals of reading music.

Angel Choir

These children (grades 3-4) have had at least one year of experience in the Training Choir or previous musical experience elsewhere, and continue their focus on vocal technique, music reading skills, and liturgical familiarity.

Chorale

This choir is open to 5th through 8th graders (boys must have unchanged voices) who have previous musical experience and exhibit the maturity required for longer, more demanding rehearsals.  Highlights of past seasons include performances in Concerts at St. Ignatius of Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, a world premiere of an opera, and a televised appearance on Good Day New York.

I can’t imagine the effort it must take for everyone to have the children do what they are doing, the parents do what they are doing, and you (and the entire SIL music ministry) do what you are doing, but I do know that my girls would not be where they are without you. Not just for the opportunity of LaGuardia, but the ability to navigate their world as well as they do, applying the skills you taught them.”

Michaela Daliana, whose twin daughters were in the Children’s Choirs from second through eighth grade, and now attend LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts