St. Patrick’s Seminary, Menlo Park, California
Catholic Institute
of Sacred Music
Summer Classes
Graduate-level study structured for busy schedules
Online, in-person, intensive, or term-length course formats
FREE tuition in Summer 2023
Affordable room & board

Our Classes
Advanced Seminar in Gregorian Chant: Approaches to Gregorian Rhythm
Mornings, July 3 to 7
Online enrollment full; seats remain only for in-person instruction
Public Lecture & Concert Series
The Beauty of the Sung Mass
Sancta Maria Hall at St. Patrick’s Seminary
The Mass: Essence & Foundation of Western Civilization
Sancta Maria Hall at St. Patrick’s Seminary
The Marriage of Heaven and Earth: Medieval Reflections Music of St. Hildegard of Bingen, Pérotin, & St. Martial Ms.
Jonathan Dimmock, organ/organetto, baritone
Main Chapel at St. Patrick’s Seminary

Workshops
Our Mission
The Institute offers a substantial program of accredited, graduate-level coursework designed to help church musicians and clergy better to know and love the Church’s treasury of sacred music and her teachings on sacred music. Our goal is to equip students with the theological, philosophical, and historical knowledge, as well as the practical skills (singing, playing, conducting, composing, organizing, fundraising) necessary to build excellent sacred music programs in parishes and schools. We aim to help others revitalize the faith of Catholics and instill vitality in parish and school life through a vibrant sacred music program.
We are committed to a faithful and generous service of the Church. We cultivate fidelity, resiliency, a healthy sense of creativity, and selflessness within our student body and faculty as characteristics of our service as we labor together in the vineyard of the Lord to bring in a rich harvest.
St. Patrick’s Seminary, in Menlo Park, California



News

Complete Concert Recording Available with Program and Translations
Our inaugural public lecture and concert series came to a close with a concert by Karen Clark (contralto) and Jonathan Dimmock (organ/organetto, baritone) entitled "The Marriage of Heaven and Earth: Medieval Reflections Music of St. Hildegard of Bingen, Pérotin, and...
New Article in “Adoremus Bulletin” by CISM Director, Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka
A new article on singing the collects at Mass offers a step-by-step guide for priest, with the help of a trusted musician, to learn to match and control their pitched voice, and introduces them to sing the presidential prayers. The traditional vesting prayers...
Thanks for joining us in our inaugural season!
As we conclude our first full semester of activities, we want to say "thank you" for being a part of the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music! Because of your support and participation, we have already been able to accomplish great things for Christ and His Holy Church....
Music of Faculty Member Frank La Rocca Featured in Wall Street Journal
From the article in the April 20th edition of the Wall Street Journal: "Another fascinating example emerges in recent works of composer Frank La Rocca of the Benedict XVI Institute. Mr. La Rocca’s 'Mass of the Americas' draws on distinctly American Catholic religious...
Interview with Faculty Member Prof. Christopher Berry – Advice for Choral Directors
Professor Christopher Berry, who will direct the choir at this summer's Choral Institute (July 17–21, 2023) was recently featured on Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast. Looking for fresh ideas about how to take your parish choir to the next level, developing a...