Music Ministry
Old St. Patrick’s is known for its joyful music celebrations. The Music Ministry is creating many opportunities for involvement whether it be for a month, three months, or the whole year. Whatever your schedule is, we have a musical group for you or we can create one. The time requirement varies by opportunity. Contact Bill Fraher at BillF@oldstpats.org or 312.831.9353 for more information.
Sundays at Old St. Pat's
Sunday worship at Old St. Pat's is blessed with a very talented and dedicated group of singers and musicians who lead us in songprayer. We are truly blessed by their ministry. The group numbers around 45 - 65 on any given Sunday and performs at all the Masses. As we would like to increase the size of this group, we are asking for your musical help. If you are a singer or an instrumentalist and would like to be involved in music ministry at the 8:15, 9:30, 11:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Masses, please contact Bill Fraher at 312.831.9353 or BillF@oldstpats.org. If you would like to play and/or sing at the Sunday
5 p.m. Mass, please contact Laura Higgins at 312.798.2342 or LauraH@oldstpats.org.
Young Adult Choir
On the first Sunday of every month, the archdiocesan Young Adult Ministry and Old St. Pat's is proud to host young adults from around the area at the 11:15 a.m. Mass. We extend an invitation to all young adult singers, married or single, in their 20's or 30's to come early and be part of the choir at that Mass. We will gather every first Sunday of the month at 10:30 a.m. in the rectory, just behind/west of the church, at 718 W. Adams for rehearsal and sing at the 11:15 a.m. Mass. If you are interested in singing, or if you are an instrumentalist, please contact Bill Fraher at 312.831.9353 or BillF@oldstapts.org. or just come on the first Sunday and bring a friend.
Old St. Pat's Church Youth Music Team
If you are between the ages of 6 and 12, we invite you to come and sing and be part of the Old St. Pat's Youth Music Team! Come and use your God-given talent in song!
For further information please contact Laura Higgins at 312 708-2342 or LauraH@oldstpats.org.
DECK THE HALL CHRISTMAS CHOIR
The Deck the Hall Christmas Concert will take place at Old St. Patrick’s Church on Dec. 4, 5, and 6, 2008. The rehearsals will be on every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 - p.m. up until the performances on Dec. 4, 5, and 6, 2008, with a special rehearsal on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. There is no need to prepare a piece for the audition. For further information, questions, and to set-up an audition time, please contact Bill Fraher at 312.831.9353 or BillF@oldstpats.org.
In its 15th year, Deck the Hall is Old St. Patrick’s way of welcoming the Advent/Christmas season with music. This year, we will be performing selections by Eric Whitacre, Bob Chilcott; Stephen Chatman, Winton Marsalis, Gary Fry, Jester Hairston, Liam Lawton, Scott Stevenson and may others.
Our choir will again be joined by members of the Metropolis Symphony Orchestra, Irish traditional players and some wonderful vocal soloists. It wouldn’t be a Deck the Hall without those soloists. We are proud to welcome back Alfreda Burke and Rod Dixon to all three concert nights. If you have never heard them before, please take a listen to their live performance of the 2016 Chicago Olympics Song:“I Will Stand” by John Stoddart.
http://www.chicago2016.org/News/Pages/IWillStand.aspx
TOO HOT CHOIR
In 1992, Marin Alsop, the conductor of the Baltimore Symphony, commissioned two New York jazz musicians Gary Anderson and Bob Christiansen to create a jazz, gospel, blues, funk, and classical recreation of Handel’s oratorio “The Messiah”. The result was, while still maintaining Handel’s original intent, a swinging performance of “Too Hot To Handel.” It has since been performed in many cities throughout the United States and most recently has been brought to Chicago audiences by the Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University
This year’s performance of “Too Hot To Handel” will be on Friday, December 12th at 7:30p.m. and Sunday, December 15th at 3:00p.m. Again tenors Rodrick Dixon and Victor Trent Cook and soprano Alfreda Burke will be the soloists along with a jazz ensemble, full orchestra and a 125 voice TOO HOT CHOIR. For tickets please contact Ticket Master at 312 902-1500 or at the ticket office at the Auditorium Theatre at 50 E. Congress Parkway. For group sales please call 312 431-2357.
The Too Hot Choir is under the direction of Bill Fraher and is made up of volunteer singers from throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. If you are a singer and would like to be part of this exciting production, please join us at Old St. Patrick’s Church Hall, corner of Adams and Des Plaines Streets, on Monday, September 15, 2008 from 7:00-9:15p.m. for our first rehearsal and for auditions. There is no need to prepare any music for the audition. We will warm-up together and sing through some of the pieces and audition from what we’ve sung through. Rehearsals will continue every Monday night through and including December 8, 2008. We have 12 rehearsals to learn to 14 choruses so attendance at rehearsals is critical There will also be a rehearsal at 5:45p.m. at the Auditorium Theatre in Thursday, December 11, 2008. Rehearsal on December 12th to be determined yet.
For further information and to sign up for the Too Hot Choir please visit our website at www.toohotchoir.com or contact Bill Fraher at 312 831-9353 or BillF@oldstpats.org.
WEDDING MUSIC FAIRS
Old St. Patrick’s Music ministry offers three wedding music fairs a year on the first Monday of February, May, and October from 7-8:45p.m. in Old St. Patrick’s Church.. Brides and grooms and extended family will hear all kinds of music appropriate for a wedding performed by many instrumentalists and singers. The fairs feature strings, piano, trumpet, oboe, Irish trad players, and 6-8 singers. We have other instrumentalists available also for weddings, such as bagpipers, flutists, etc. There is a $5 donation per person taken at the door.
So whether you are a bride or groom planning a wedding here at Old St. Pat’s or elsewhere; or a mother or father planning your son or daughter’s wedding or your own wedding anniversary; or want to hear some good music, please join us for our next wedding music fair on Monday, Oct. 6, 2008 from 7-8:45p.m. for what some people call “the cheapest and best concert on a Monday night in downtown Chicago”.
For further information or assistance in planning your wedding, please contact Bill Fraher at 312 831-9353 or BillF@oldstpats.org.
Recorder Ensemble
Old St. Patrick's is forming a recorder ensemble for the enjoyment of music and performing atLiturgies. If you play at the intermediate level or above, and would be interested in playing ― either regularly or now and then ― then let us know!If you're interested, please write to Fred Butzen at fwb@lepanto.com and give your name, email address, recorders you play, level of playing, and the days of the week or month that are open for you to come to rehearsal. We'll be in touch as soon as possible.
Choir of Hope
The Choir of Hope is part of Harmony, Hope and Healing — a creative music program offering dignity and spiritual healing to the homeless and the underserved in the Chicago area. The Choir is under the direction of Marge Nygaza. For more information about the choir, visit their Web site at www.harmonyhopeandhealing.org.
We are happy to welcome the Choir of Hope to these upcoming 11:15 masses in 2008: September 28, October 19, November 23. If you would be interested in helping to cook, serve, or underwrite the cost for their lunch, please contact Bill Fraher at 312 831-9353 or BillF@oldstpats.org. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
If you are interested in helping to host a lunch for the Choir on any of the dates
they perform at Old St. Pat’s, please
contact Bill Fraher at 312.831.9353. We hope you will be able to join us for these joyous occasions.
Confirmed Dates for 2008 and 2009
2008 |
2009 |
10/19/08 |
1/25/09
|
11/23/08 |
2/22/09 |
12/21/08 |
3/22/09 |
4/19/09 |
|
5/17/09 |
|
6/28/09 |
Instrumentalists
Perform at various Masses. Rehearsals determined according to volunteer’s schedule. Skill level: medium to advanced proficiency of instrument, including, but not limited to: piano, percussion, saxophone, clarinet, bass, violin, flute and guitar. Audition required.
Contact
Director of Music
Bill Fraher
BillF@oldstpats.org
312.831.9353
Assistant Director to Music
Laura Higgins
LauraH@oldstpats.org
312.798.2342