Worshiping God through Singing
Join Our Chorister Program for Ages 8-17
Handing on the Catholic faith through the beauty, joy, and challenge of learning to sing the Church’s sacred music with excellence
Our Mission and Goals
Are you looking for a positive, fun, and joyful environment for your student to pray, learn his or her Catholic faith, develop musical talents, meet great friends, and develop virtues such as patience and resiliency?
The Catholic Institute of Sacred Music Chorister Program is committed to inspiring young singers through a comprehensive program that emphasizes musical excellence and spiritual growth. Our mission is to cultivate a love for sacred music, guiding young voices to reach their full potential while instilling values of discipline, teamwork, and artistic expression.
Open to all students ages 8–17, the Chorister Program offers weekly training in:
- The Catholic faith
- Active participation in the sacred liturgy through singing the Church’s treasury of sacred music, including Gregorian chant, sacred polyphony, hymns, responses, etc.
- Rigorous vocal training and technique
- Music theory and aural skills
- Reading musical notation (modern notation for choral music and square notes for Gregorian chant)
- Rhythm and conducting
- Improvisation and composition
- Choral singing in the great cathedral tradition
Open to singers of all experience levels. The ability to match pitch is required and will be determined in an informal audition with a faculty member once the program begins. Students needing remediation to match pitch will receive short supplemental education.
This training complements any private instruction in voice, keyboard, stringed, or other instruments students are receiving outside the program.
Rehearsals are on Tuesdays at St. Patrick’s Seminary, starting at 4:15 p.m. and concluding with the singing of Vespers alongside seminarians at 6:15 p.m.
Led by seminarians, a parallel program is offered for parents/guardians to engage in spiritual formation, Eucharistic adoration, and fellowship while they wait for their Choristers.
2025–26 Program Details & Fees
Payment Details
Yearly Tuition
per student
$1000, payable in-full or in 2 installments of $500
Family Discount
Only pay for up to 2 students; 3rd student and beyond are free.
Additional scholarships are available for families in need.
Attendance Requirements
Participants must attend weekly rehearsals, special events,
and sing for scheduled Masses at Church of the Nativity in Menlo Park.
Mandatory
Schedule Overview
Rehearsals are held every Tuesday from 4:15 PM to 6:15 PM.
See schedule below.
Weekly
Pick-up and Drop-off
Drop-off available 3:45-4:15.
A monitored study hall is available for students who arrive early to rehearsal.
Uniform for Mass
Modest black bottoms and white tops, or all black dresses/suits, with closed-toe shoes are required for each singer.
Dress for Rehearsal
For boys: collared shirts and/or sweaters, and trousers/slacks.
For girls: modest dresses, skirts/loose-fitting pants with collared shirts.
For all: no flip flops, sneakers, shorts, t-shirts, or blue jeans.
Parent Volunteers
It is vital to have parent volunteers assisting us in order for our program to be functional and successful. We will need at least four volunteers at every rehearsal/special event/Mass, to manage check-in/check-out, help with study hall, and to assist with rehearsal room/bathroom monitoring. Please, when you sign your children up for this unique program, know that you’re committing to volunteering to help us on a regular basis. The more volunteers we have, the lighter the workload! You’ll receive more information and more details after enrolling in the program.
Additional Fees
Music Materials
Cost for sheet music and learning resources.
$75 per student (all students, including those with free family discount)
Calendar
Rehearsals 2025–26
September 9, 16, 23, 30
October 7, 14, 21, 28
November 4, 11, 18
December 2, 9, 16
January 13, 20, 27
February 3, 10, 17, 24
March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
April 14, 21, 28
May 5, 12, 19
Masses at Church of the Nativity
- December 21, 2025 – 9:30 a.m. (4th Sunday of Advent – 8:30 a.m. rehearsal)
- April 2, 2026 – 6:00 p.m. (Holy Thursday – 5 p.m. rehearsal)
- May 24, 2026 – 9:30 a.m. (Pentecost – 8:30 a.m. rehearsal)
Special Events
- Tuesday, October 7 – 4:15 p.m. (Our Lady of the Rosary, Rosary Festival)
- Saturday, December 6, 2025 – 10:00 a.m. (St. Nicholas Day, Investiture of Choristers)
- Tuesday, February 3, 2026 – 4:15 p.m. (St. Blaise Day, Blessing of Throats)
- Saturday, March 14, 2026 – Pueri Cantores Festival, Cathedral of Saint Mary, San Francisco
- Tuesday, May 19, 2026 – 4:15 p.m. (May Crowning)
Faculty
Led by expert musicians, students in our Chorister Program receive top-tier training.
Questions?
In need of a scholarship? Please get in touch with us.
Interested in volunteering? We are in need of parent volunteers.
Contact us with any questions you have. Please email Sr. Mary Vianney at mary.vianney@stpsu.edu.