“Praise God in his holy sanctuary; Give praise for his mighty deeds; Give praise with blasts of the horn, with harp and lyre, with tambourines and dance, with crashing cymbals; Let everything that has breath give praise to the Lord!” (from Psalm 150)
Music Ministry – Who We Are
The Music Ministry of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church is comprised of adults, teens, and children, who commit themselves to fostering the sung prayer of the assembly - inspiring its communal worship of God, nourishing its faith life, and supporting its parish mission statement: "To spread the good news of Jesus Christ to all God's people by word and action."
Each week, the members of St. Mark’s Music Ministry seek to enhance the spirituality of our community through sung prayer. They do this in a variety of ways: through their participation in a choir, as instrumentalists, or as cantors. Our members, from the young through the young at heart, all share the same purpose: to return their gifts of time and talent to their community so that all may be inspired to praise and honor God. In the process, friendships are formed, knowledge is gained, faith is deepened, and perhaps, even a new part of one’s self is awakened.
Perhaps you have previous choir experience, play an instrument, or have other musical talents. Or, perhaps you simply love to sing and wish to nurture and develop that interest. Whatever the case, we would love to have you join us for music, fellowship, and sharing as we praise God through this special ministry. We encourage you to share your gifts with your parish community. Each choir or ensemble has scheduled rehearsal time weekly, unless otherwise noted, and sings/plays for a specific liturgy on Sunday, or as scheduled at other liturgies and special events at St. Mark.
We welcome all who are interested in serving in our music ministry and value your individual gifts and contributions. Below you will find a list of offerings. For more information, please contact the music ministry office. We look forward to hearing from you!
Music Ministry – How to Get Involved
Adult Choir
Membership is open to all interested singers, high school age and above. This choir sings for the Sunday 10 am Mass from September through May, with a break for the summer. This is the main choir for the parish and also sings at other major Feast Days and often offers a concert in the Yvonne Cosgrove Concert Series. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings in the main Sanctuary at 7 pm.
Spanish Choir
Membership is open to all interested Spanish-language singers and instrumentalists. This ensemble sings regularly for the Sunday 2 pm Spanish language Mass and for other bilingual events, such as the annual Living Stations of the Cross offered on Good Friday each year. Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings in the main Sanctuary at 7 pm.
Orchestra
Orchestral instrumentalists from middle school age through adults are welcome to be a part of this ensemble that plays at various liturgies in both contemporary and traditional styles of music. Musicians are asked to be able to read music beyond an intermediate level of playing, as we perform a lot of music quickly. Rehearsals are on Sundays at 11:30 am (after the 10 am Mass and per announced schedule) in the Charism Room of Building 2, next to the music offices.
Youth Choir
Open to middle and high-school-aged youth who enjoy singing a variety of styles, this choir sings once a month for the Sunday 5 pm Mass and at other Masses at the request of the Director of Music. They sometimes assist the children’s choir as role models in liturgical music preparations. Rehearsals are on Sundays at 1:30 pm (after the Noon Mass and per announced schedule) in the Charism Room of Building 2 next to the music offices.
Contemporary Ensembles
Small contemporary groups assist with the Sunday 5 pm Mass and with other Masses and events such as ACTS “Return Mass” and Living Stations of the Cross, among other events. These groups are organized on a rotating schedule and on a “per event” basis. Singers and contemporary instrumentalists are invited to participate in rehearsals. Direction of the groups is overseen by our Music Director, Music Assistant, and Youth Assistant.
Cantor Ministry
Cantors, accompanied by organ or piano, minister to the worshiping assembly by leading the singing at the Saturday 5 pm, Sunday 8 am, and Sunday 12 noon Masses. Cantors are assigned on a rotating basis. Cantor formation and training are scheduled periodically throughout the year.
Instrumentalists
Middle school students entering the 8th grade, high school students, and adults of all ages who play any orchestral instrument or guitar are invited and encouraged to participate in the 10 am choir or the 5 pm Life Teen ensemble. Rehearsals for the 10 am choir are held approximately every other Sunday after the 10 am Mass in the Day Chapel. Rehearsals for the 5 pm Life Teen ensemble are held on Sunday afternoon in the main sanctuary from 3:30 – 4:40 pm.