In 2013 we published a list of Catholic Liturgical Children's Choirs. Since then, the list has grown substantially, so we are delighted to share it again. The start of the academic year is an ideal time to be thinking about enrolling your child in a choir. In so doing, you are helping to make the Liturgy we offer to God as beautiful as possible, and your child will gain the immeasurable benefits of an immersion in the musical treasures of the Catholic Church.
It is quite possible that some of the information below is out of date: if so, please help by making amendments in the comments. Equally, if you know of a choir which is not listed, please share the information in the comments and it will be incorporate in future editions of the list.
UNITED STATES (State alphabetical)
SURPRISE, AZ
St. Clare of Assisi: a children's choir for students in grades 3-8, forming on the west side of the Diocese of Phoenix Arizona. The choir will specialize in Gregorian chant and sacred music. Contact is Director of Music Matthew J. Meloche mmeloche@diocesephoenix.org
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
Corpus Christi: The St. Cecilia Schola Cantorum offers a music education and choral experience which includes instruction in sight singing, theory, Catholic catechesis and Gregorian chant. The St. Cecilia Choir (7+ years) and the Mary’s Angels Choir (under age 7) rehearse on Friday afternoons. Open to non-parish members. Contact the director, Valerie Nicolosi, at valnic33@sbcglobal.netWebsite
NORWALK, CT
St Mary's: Director of Music David Hughes, a key CMAA figure and leading Catholic musician has a huge music programme involving a number of choirs with excellent opportunities for children. Contact David Hughes music@stmarynorwalk.netWebsite
CHICAGO, IL
St John Cantius: The Holy Innocents Choir has nearly 100 children. Gregorian Chant and modern notation are taught, as well as catechesis. Rehearsals on Saturdays, sings at OF and EF Masses, Propers and Ordinaries; polyphonic mass settings; motets and hymns. Also occasionally sings the Divine Office with the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius. Contact Director Br. Chad McCoy, SJC, email holyinnocentschoir@cantius.orgWebsite
TOPEKA, KSIt is quite possible that some of the information below is out of date: if so, please help by making amendments in the comments. Equally, if you know of a choir which is not listed, please share the information in the comments and it will be incorporate in future editions of the list.
UNITED STATES (State alphabetical)
SURPRISE, AZ
St. Clare of Assisi: a children's choir for students in grades 3-8, forming on the west side of the Diocese of Phoenix Arizona. The choir will specialize in Gregorian chant and sacred music. Contact is Director of Music Matthew J. Meloche mmeloche@diocesephoenix.org
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
Corpus Christi: The St. Cecilia Schola Cantorum offers a music education and choral experience which includes instruction in sight singing, theory, Catholic catechesis and Gregorian chant. The St. Cecilia Choir (7+ years) and the Mary’s Angels Choir (under age 7) rehearse on Friday afternoons. Open to non-parish members. Contact the director, Valerie Nicolosi, at valnic33@sbcglobal.netWebsite
NORWALK, CT
St Mary's: Director of Music David Hughes, a key CMAA figure and leading Catholic musician has a huge music programme involving a number of choirs with excellent opportunities for children. Contact David Hughes music@stmarynorwalk.netWebsite
CHICAGO, IL
St John Cantius: The Holy Innocents Choir has nearly 100 children. Gregorian Chant and modern notation are taught, as well as catechesis. Rehearsals on Saturdays, sings at OF and EF Masses, Propers and Ordinaries; polyphonic mass settings; motets and hymns. Also occasionally sings the Divine Office with the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius. Contact Director Br. Chad McCoy, SJC, email holyinnocentschoir@cantius.orgWebsite
Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church: Schola Cantorum founded three years ago as an "after school choir school." 25 choristers and 8 probationers (lower parts are choral scholars from the local university) directed by Lucas Tappan. The Schola sings every other week for the sacred liturgy as well as for concerts and tours. This year the students will be recording their first CD. Contact Lucas Tappan ltappan@mphm.comWebsite
ELLICOTT CITY, MD
Regina Caeli Schola Cantorum: a Gregorian Chant class for children grade 3-8. Rehearsals on Mondays. Contact the Director Mia Coyne miacoyne@gmail.comWebsite
PASADENA, MD
St Jane Frances de Chantal: Parish Children's Choir for children grade 3-8, rehearses on Wednesday evenings and sings for Sunday 10am Mass. Gregorian Chant and Hymns. Director Mia Coyne miacoyne@gmail.comWebsite
CAMBRIDGE, MA
St Paul's, Harvard Square: home to the renowned St Paul's Choir School, one of two Catholic Choir Schools in the USA. Musical boys in 3rd grade should apply for entry at 4th grade. Contact John Robinson, Director of Music 617-868-8658 jrobinson@choirschool.netInformationWebsite
KALAMAZOO, MI
St. Mary's, Kalamazoo, Michigan has a children's choir which sings principally at the EF Mass. Propers, Ordinary, and hymns and motets. Chant and some polyphony. Website
DULUTH, MN
St Benedict's: Children's Schola for boys and girls grades 2-8, directed by Sandra Eller, to study sight reading skills using solfege, and sing Latin and English chant in modern and Gregorian notation. Rehearses Wednesday evenings, sings for Sunday Mass once a month. Contact Director Sandra Eller nannybouje@gmail.comWebsite
ST. PAUL, MN
Cathedral of St Paul: The Cathedral Choir School of Minnesota is an after-school program at the Cathedral on Wednesdays for Choristers in grades K-12, beginning with Benediction and concluding with Mass. Contact Jayne Windnagel jwindnagel@cathedralsaintpaul.org Website
LEMAY (ST. LOUIS), MO
St Martin of Tours: a new children's choir focusing on Chant and polyphony directed by Mary Pentecost, weekly rehearsals (Thursdays) and singing at a monthly Mass. Auditions for children in Grades 3-12. Contact Mary Pentecost (314) 544-5664 InformationWebsite
HELENA, MT
Cathedral of St Helena: The St Cecilia Choir for boys and girls aged 7-15 sings once a month at the 11am Mass with weekly rehearsals on Tuesdays. Website
LINCOLN, NE
St. Francis of Assisi Chapel, FSSP: Sacred Music Instruction for boys and girls 7-14: including Ward method activities, Gregorian chant, and beginning polyphony. Rehearsals are Wednesdays from 4-5 pm. Choristers sing for occasional sung Masses at SF Chapel. Those interested in joining please contact Nicholas Lemme, Chant Director at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary, FSSP; Choir Director at St. Francis of Assisi Chapel (402) 797-7700
RALEIGH, NC
A new youth schola (12+ years old) directed by Dr. Patricia Warren to compliment Schola Vox Clara, a Schola which serves the Extraordinary Form in the Diocese of Raleigh. Weekly rehearsals to sing for one EF Mass per month to start. Mixed voices, and gentlemen with both unchanged and changed voices are welcome. No prior choral experience is necessary. Contact Dr. Patricia Warren,
Director, Schola Vox Clara pwarren@christeluxmundi.org
PELHAM, NY
Ward method classes given by NLM's Jennifer Donelson are available as part of the Colm Cille Club homeschool co-op curriculum. Classes are on Wednesday mornings at St Catherine's Church. Website
LATROBE, PA
Holy Family: Schola Cantorum sings at a weekly Diocesan Extraordinary Form Mass. Its members are girls and young women ages 14-23, who sing Gregorian Chant and Renaissance polyphony alone, and occasionally with a men's Schola (in formation). Contact Fr. Stephen Concordia O.S.B. stephen.concordia@stvincent.eduWebsite
MOUNT PLEASANT, SC
Harmonia Children's Choir Christ Our King Stella Maris School. Directors, Scott and Suzanne Fleming-Atwood satwood1@coksm.org and atwoodscottn@gmail.com
DALLAS, TX
Saint Rita Catholic Church has a graded program for children in grades K-8, with three choirs serving 70 children. Jubilate Deo, grades 5-8, sings once each month for the sung liturgy, Novus Ordo. Additional training in theory and sight singing offered once per week. Dr. Alfred Calabrese, head director. acalabrese@stritaparish.net
SAN ANTONIO, TX
The Atonement Academy and Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church. The Saint Augustine Boy Choir is for boys with unchanged voices in grades 3-8. The Saint Nicholas Children's Choir is for girls in grades 3-8. The choirs focus on Gregorian Chant and many motets and anthems of the Anglican Patrimony. Contact Brett Paterson, Department of Music (210) 695-2240 Website
SALT LAKE CITY, UT
Madeleine Cathedral: The Madeleine Choir School, a superb Cathedral Choir directed by Gregory Glenn with vocal training from Melanie Malinka, both inspirational musicians who are well-known to those who have attended the Colloquium the past two years in Salt Lake. Website
SPOKANE, WA
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes: The Diocesan Youth Choir for boys and girls in grades 3-8. In this diocesan choir, children learn music skills including singing technique and sight-reading and sing beautiful sacred music in the context of Mass presided over by the Bishop of Spokane. Contact the Cathedral Music Office at (509) 358-4290 or youthchoir@dioceseofspokane.org
CHARLES TOWN, WV
St James the Greater: a number of children's choirs - Sacred Heart Choir for Kindergarten-Grade2, Saint Cecilia Choir for girls grades 3-8, Saint Gregory Choir for boys grades 3-8, Archangelus Chorale for high school students and Holy Trinity Ensemble, and auditioned choir for grades 5-12. Contact Director of Music Gary Penkala liturgy@stjameswv.orgWebsite
MILWAUKEE, WI
Basilica of St Josaphat: a new children's choir is being formed. Contact Christopher Berry Director of Music berryc@archmil.orgWebsite
The American Federation of Pueri Cantores Website
CANADA
CALGARY
St John the Evangelist: Sacred Heart Choir School is a program for homeschooling boys and girls in grades 3-12 based at St John's, an Ordinariate Parish. Classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact the Principal, Paul Hudec phudec@shaw.ca Website
TORONTO
St Michael's Cathedral: St Michael's Choir School for boys has three choirs which sing at the Cathedral: Elementary Choir (Grades 3 & 4), Junior Choir (Grades 5 & 6), Senior Choir (Grades 7-12). Contact musicoffice@smcs.on.caWebsite
Oratory of St Philip Neri: The Oratory Children's Choir - Children learn chanted ordinaries of the mass, English propers in psalm-tone and 2-pt fauxbourdon and motets from Medieval to 19th Century repertoire. Grade 4-12. Contact Oratory Music Director, Philip Fournier: laetatussum@gmail.com Website
St.Thomas More Ordinariate Parish has a children's choir for ages 7 to 18, meeting for weekly rehearsal on Thursday afternoons. Plainchant to contemporary classical repertoire. Directed by Katharine Mahon kmahon79@yahoo.caWebsite
EUROPE
AUTUN, FRANCE
Autun Cathedral Girls Choir - Choeur de Filles de la Maîtrise de la Cathédrale d'Autun. Liturgy - Concerts - Choir School. Girls aged 6 to 15 years old, trained in Gregorian Chant and Polyphony. Director : Hugo Gutierrez maitrise.autun.choeurdefilles@gmail.com +33980903434 Website
PARIS, FRANCE
Notre Dame de L'Assomption 1er: Les Petits Chanteurs de Passy for boys and girls aged 8-14. Rehearses Fridays and Saturdays, sings polyphony with adult back row. Contact contact@petits-chanteurs-passy.frWebsite
Saint-Eugène - Sainte-Cécile 9e: Les Petits Chantres de Sainte-Cécile, a new choir for children launches at the end of September 2013. Rehearsals on Saturday afternoons. Contact the Director, Clotilde de Nedde clotildedenedde@gmail.comFacebookWebsite
HAARLEM, THE NETHERLANDS
St Bavo Cathedral: The Koorschool is a Choir School for boys and girls from age 8. Contact info@koorschoolhaarlem.nlWebsite
LIVERPOOL, UNITED KINGDOM
Metropolitan Cathedral. Boys' Choir and Girls' Choir. Website
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
London Oratory SW7: The London Oratory Junior Choir for boys and girls aged 8-16 directed by Charles Cole. Three rehearsals per week and two services including the Sunday 10am Mass. Gregorian Chant Propers and Ordinary, motets from Medieval/Renaissance through to present day. Also sings for the Royal Ballet's productions at Covent Garden. Contact oratoryjuniorchoir@gmail.comInformationWebsite
London Oratory Schola. Boys' choir which sings the Saturday Vigil Mass at the London Oratory, Concerts, Tours, Recordings. All boys attend The London Oratory SchoolWebsite
St Francis of Assisi, Pottery Lane. Children's Choir Website