Ontario Liturgical Conference: Summer School for Musicians

Hosted by the Hamilton Diocesan Music Committee and The Liturgy Office of the Diocese of Hamilton.

[ Registration Form in Acrobat format (PDF) >>]

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs ... making melody to the Lord

Ephesians 5.19

August 9 - 13, 2004
Redeemer University College Ancaster, Ontario

Come and join us for a wonderful week of learning, prayer and music-making. If you are an organist, guitarist, instrumentalist, choir director, cantor, choir member, or like to celebrate your faith in song, we look forward to meeting you at this year's Summer School for Liturgical Musicians.

During the week, we will explore the various forms of music used in our liturgical celebrations and develop our music-making skills to more effectively lead our communities in prayerful song and celebration. Each day we will celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours (morning and evening prayer) and we will conclude the week with a festive celebration of the Eucharist. During the week we will have an opportunity to discover new music resources and discuss a variety of pastoral concerns. We will learn and sing together, enjoy good meals and air-conditioned buildings on the spacious campus of Redeemer University College. Above all, we will grow in faith as a singing community and be energized to exercise music ministry in our parish communities.

For over twenty years the Summer School for Liturgical Musicians has been the largest and most comprehensive workshop event for church musicians in Ontario. A project of the Ontario Liturgical Conference, an advisory body to the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Summer School draws musicians from parish communities throughout the province and beyond, and is staffed by a team of expert liturgists and professional musicians. Hamilton Diocese is privileged to host this year's Summer School as we invite participants to explore the musical forms which we use in the Church's liturgical celebrations.

The Summer School for Liturgical Musicians will begin on Monday, August 9, 2004 with registration from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

All meals are included in the registration fee with the exception of Wednesday evening dinner. Although there will be no meal served on site, there are several restaurants (some within walking distance) near the College.

Accommodations are in townhouses on the campus of Redeemer University College and are air-conditioned. All classrooms and our worship space are also air-conditioned. All facilities are wheel-chair accessible. Elevators are available in the classroom building.

There is ample free parking close to the townhouses and classroom building.

All participants are requested to bring a choir edition of CBW III with them.

Those wishing to participate as cantors and instrumentalists for liturgical celebrations are invited to audition during the registration period.

On Wednesday the program concludes at 6:00 p.m. A free evening follows.

A confirmation letter and further information will be sent to you upon receipt of payment.

THE PROGRAM PLENARY LITURGY SESSIONS

Each day there will be two plenary liturgy sessions. During these sessions we will explore the various musical forms used in liturgical celebrations: psalms, hymns, litanies, responses, chants, and acclamations. The historical development of these forms, their structure and use in the liturgy will be discussed. Facilitators: Sister Loretta Manzara, CSJ, and Reverend Murray J. Kroetsch

MUSIC PRACTICUM SESSIONS
Each morning there will be workshop sessions for organists and pianists, cantors and choir members, instrumentalists. Each afternoon there will be sessions for choir directors and for choir members.

Vocal Ministry A workshop for cantors and choir members, and those engaged in the song of the assembly. An opportunity explore repertoire related to the musical forms presented in the plenary liturgy sessions and to develop corresponding vocal and interpretive skills. Participants will be divided into three groups and have opportunity to work with a different facilitator each day. Facilitators: Jose Hernandez, Irena Hernandez, Carolyn Sinclair

Organ and Piano A workshop for those who lead the assembly's song with organ or piano. An opportunity to explore repertoire related to the musical forms presented in the plenary liturgy sessions and to develop the correspond techniques and interpretive skills required to lead the assembly's song.

Instrument and Ensemble A workshop for instrumentalists, those who play guitar, wind instruments, strings and keyboard. An opportun for ensemble members to explore repertoire related to the musical forms presented in the plenary liturgy sessic and to develop the corresponding techniques and interpretive skills required to lead the assembly's song. Facilitators: David Hall and Tony MacKinnon

Choral Singing A daily workshop session providing an opportunity for all participants to sing in a large group and to devel choral skills. Repertoire will include music which is both challenging and appropriate for use with parish choirs in liturgical celebrations. Organists and other instrumentalists are also encouraged to participate in this session. Facilitator: Joyce Knarr

Choral Directing A daily workshop session for choir directors. Participants will work with a selected repertoire and develop skills and techniques for directing choirs during the liturgy. Facilitator: Karen Ann Schuessler

DAILY DISCUSSION GROUPS

Eac day participants will be invited to join a small group to discuss topics of interest and concern to pastoral musicians, such as getting people to sing, developing appropriate repertoire, liturgical and musical questions. A further plenary panel discussion will be held at the conclusion of the week. Facilitators: Hamilton Diocesan Music Committee and Staff

REPERTOIRE SESSION

On Tuesday evening there will be a repertoire learning session. Music which offers a variety of voicing, instrumentation and levels of difficulty, and is suitable for parish liturgies will be presented. Facilitators: Hamilton Diocesan Music Committee

MEMBERS OF OUR 2004 SUMMER SCHOOL STAFF

Sister Loretta Manzara, CSJ is currently a member of the Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London. A former Director of the Liturgy Office of London Diocese, she served as the executive secretary of the CBW III Hymnal committee.

Reverend Murray J. Kroetsch is currently the Director of the Liturgy Office of Hamilton Diocese and pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Brantford. He served as the chairman of the CBW III Hymnal committee.

Jose Hernandez is the music director at St. Pius X Parish in Brantford and enjoys an outstanding reputation as a singer, opera coach, pianist and conductor.

Irena Hernandez currently teaches voice in her home studio, is active as a solo vocal performer, and is an experienced cantor.

Carolyn Sinclair has been a guest soloist with choirs, recital series, chamber ensembles and orchestras, and is actively involved at St. Joseph Parish in Hamilton.

Michael Jarvis is currently organist and music director at St. Joseph Parish in Hamilton and conductor of the Mohawk College Singers. He also serves as the organist for the Hamilton Diocesan Choir.

David Hall is the full-time music director at Blessed Sacrament Church in Kitchener where he conducts several choirs and coordinates a variety of musical ensembles.

Tony MacKinnon currently directs one of th choirs at St. Joseph Parish in Hamilton an has been involved in liturgical music fc many years, most often as a guitarist. Joyce Knarr is a well known musician i Hamilton Diocese where she has served a music director in several parishes and fac ilitator of workshops for liturgical musicians Karen Ann Schuessler is the director c music at Wesley Knox United Church i London and director of the Karen Schuessk Singers. She teaches singing, piano an organ.

Sharon Fazari is the chairperson of th Hamilton Diocesan Music Committee an Director of the Hamilton Diocesan Choir.