by admin | Feb 11, 2026 | News
The first annual Oregon Sacred Music Colloquium, January 30–31, 2026, drew over 100 singers to Mt Angel Abbey for two beautiful days of singing, learning, and praying. Participants learned a Gregorian ordinary, propers of the Mass in English and Latin, and a few motets as Dr. Donelson-Nowicka directed rehearsals and gave spiritual talks. She covered the basics of Gregorian chant notation and the modes, as well as the role of sacred music in the Church’s liturgy and the spiritual life. Participants attended Byzantine vespers and sang a final Mass with Bishop Thomas Hennen, the youngest ordinary in the U.S. recently ordained for the see of Baker. The event, sponsored by the Mt. Angel Institute, was organized by Dr. Myrna Keough and Fr. Anselm Flores and aims to continue to drawing singers together in response to Archbishop Alexander K. Sample’s fantastic pastoral letter on sacred music.
by admin | Feb 5, 2026 | News
The Catholic Institute of Sacred Music is pleased to announce that Martin Baker is joining its faculty and will serve as instructor for the Institute’s Organ Improvisation course this summer.
Martin Baker, formerly Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral (2000–2019) and President of the Royal College of Organists (2017–2019), is widely regarded as one of the foremost organists and improvisers of his generation. Winner of first prize in the Improvisation Competition at the St Albans International Organ Festival in 1997, he is renowned internationally for his command of extemporaneous playing in the service of liturgy and concert repertoire.
The course, held in person from July 20–24, 2026, is a graduate-level intensive seminar limited to six participants, competitively selected from among applicants. Designed for organists with a secure technical foundation seeking to develop a disciplined approach to improvisation, it emphasizes harmonic structure, formal coherence, and the elaboration of sacred melodies in liturgical contexts. Sessions include group instruction, assigned liturgical playing (Mass and Vespers) during the Institute’s Choral Institute, and individual lessons.
Further details, including application, are available here.
For inquiries, email us.
The Catholic Institute of Sacred Music offers advanced, intensive training in sacred music within a Catholic framework, welcoming both degree-seeking (MSM and post-baccalaureate certificates) and non-degree students.
Martin Baker – Biography
Born in Manchester in 1967, Martin Baker studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, Chetham’s School of Music and Downing College, Cambridge, then held positions at London’s Westminster and St Paul’s Cathedrals before being appointed to Westminster Abbey at the age of 24. In 2000 he returned to Westminster Cathedral as Master of Music, where for 20 years he was responsible for directing the world-renowned choir in its daily choral programme and busy schedule of concerts, tours and recordings.
Martin Baker is much sought after as an organist, playing frequent solo concerts in the UK and around the world. In addition to playing a wide repertoire he is known for his skill in improvisation, both liturgically and in concert, and was the winner of the Tournemire improvisation competition in St Albans in 1997. His first solo organ recording has just been released on the new Ad Fontes label from Buckfast Abbey, where he played the opening concert on the new Ruffatti organ in 2018. He teaches both repertoire and improvisation and has appeared on the juries of several international organ competitions.
He recently served as President of the Royal College of Organists and is an honorary Fellow of Downing College, Cambridge.
by admin | Jan 25, 2026 | News
Seminary music directors from around the country gathered for a second annual meeting to discuss the role of music in formation. This year’s meeting was hosted by St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, and involved a discussion of Josef Pieper’s Leisure, the Basis of Culture, as well as talks by Fr. Sean Kilcawley, Fr. Paul Bechter, and Bishop Steven J. Lopes. The faculty in the group bring a joyfully resilient attitude towards service in seminary formation, exhibiting a deep love for Christ and His Church, as well as for the seminarians, faculties, and institutions in which they serve. The future is bright for sacred music in America with seminarians formed by these faculty!
by admin | Jan 3, 2026 | News
January 3, 2026
Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
Dear friends of the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music,
Fall 2025 wrapped up a banner year for the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music. Thank you for being a part of our mission by attending our events, learning in our classes and workshops, and supporting us with your prayers and donations! We pray in a particular way each Tuesday at our staff meetings for all those we serve, as well as our benefactors.
2025 was marked by tremendous growth here at CISM. The late spring and summer saw the hiring of two new additions to CISM – Prof. Christopher Berry, who now serves full-time on our faculty and as director of our Chorister Program, and our Program Associate and Assistant to the Director, Sr. Mary Vianney Owens.
The summer was extremely busy for us, from our landmark Fons et Culmen Liturgy Summit with Cardinals Sarah, O’Malley, and Ranjith, through our three weeks of summer classes, we welcomed hundreds of guests and students onto our campus for beautiful liturgies, talks, graduate study, and fellowship. The summer concluded with our first-ever Chant Camp (coming again August 3–7, 2026 – mark your calendars!) and the launch of our Chorister Program for young singers.
The fall semester was marked by two wonderful lectures in our Public Concert and Lecture Series. Gregory Glenn of the Madeleine Choir School (Salt Lake City) shared with us a small bit of his accumulated knowledge after decades of working with young singers and building solid structures dedicated to their training. Fr. Innocent Smith, OP (University of Notre Dame) marked the month of November with a lecture on the Office of the Dead, with a special emphasis on Vespers as well as on the sources and peculiarities of the Dominican usage.
Our fall online Monday workshop series saw record engagement for an extended series I taught on the modes, as well as a 3-part series with Dr. Geoffrey Williams (New York Polyphony) on vocal technique for changing voices.
Our Chorister Program got off to a solid start with weekly rehearsals on Tuesdays. We marked the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary with a sung rosary procession. About half of our choristers were installed as on the feast of St. Nicholas, marking their progress through the Voice for Life series and dedication to weekly homework and rehearsals. They sang for their first Mass on Rorate Sunday (4th Sunday of Advent) at Church of the Nativity in Menlo Park, rendering the Gregorian propers and ordinary, as well as anthems by Darke and Willcocks.
We held our first event entirely in Spanish on St. Cecilia’s Day – a sacred music study day. We weren’t sure how many would attend this event (I had hoped for 50), but thanks to the dedication of many choirs and pastors throughout the state (from Santa Rosa down to Bakersfield!), we had 225 people register in time for the deadline! At that point we had to hold the deadline firm because the final Mass of the event was also welcoming a group of local pilgrims to pass through the seminary’s designated holy doors, and we had absolutely no more room in the chapel for the closing sung Mass with Archbishop Cordileone. It was a wonderful event, and we look forward to offering two Saturday online workshop series entirely in Spanish in the spring semester, as well as to this becoming an annual event.
Also this fall we submitted all of our materials for approval of our new Master of Sacred Music degree program and look forward to concluding the process for the degree, as well as our Post-Baccalaureate Certificates in Gregorian Chant and Sacred Choral Music very soon. We have opened applications, and announced our 13 classes for this summer. We look forward to welcoming students on campus this summer! The deadline to apply for the degree or certificates is February 15 and for non-degree-seeking students wishing just to take a few classes the deadline is May 1.
Thanks to a generous donation of the McInnes family, we are delighted to have announced summer paid choral fellows, the John A. McInnes Choral Fellowship. Aimed at encouraging outstanding Catholic singers aged 25+, we are accepting applications for 12 spots. Choral Fellows will serve as section leaders in the Choral Institute, and lead a recording project for the 5 composers in Dr. Frank LaRocca’s Composition Seminar.
We also offered several local workshops, each drawing over 100 singers to each. Attendees learned some of the basic of Church teaching on sacred music and singing Gregorian chant, concluding the events with a fully-sung Mass. We look forward to several more such events in the spring at Mt Angel Abbey in Oregon, St. Vitus (FSSP) in Northridge, CA, New Orleans, and Spokane. If you are interested in having CISM faculty give a workshop in your area, please contact us at info @ catholicinstituteofsacredmusic.org.
What’s on tap for spring 2026? Lectures by Sir James MacMillan, Dr. Margaret Hughes, and the Duruflé Messe cum jubilo sung by the Schola Cantorum of St. Patrick’s Seminary for the feast of the Annunciation mark our Public Lecture and Concert Series. In February our annual conference features 13 talks on theological and practical topics by top scholars on the sung Divine Office. Our Monday Online Workshop Series features 4 topics—singing the readings of the Mass (Dr. Donelson-Nowicka), the history of the Requiem (Dr. Erick Arenas), a guided discussion group on the GIRM (Dr. D-N), and playing the organ music of Bach liturgically (Prof. Christopher Berry). Our online continuing education series for current graduate students features 5 sessions from a panel discussion on musician health to a Lenten retreat with Archbishop Cordileone. We will expand our offerings in Spanish with two online workshops, in vocal technique and Church teachings on sacred music (a registration link coming soon!). April 18th is our spring semester Sacred Music Study Day (in English) here at the Seminary. Our Choristers will bury the Alleluia just before Ash Wednesday, have a blessing of throats for St. Blaise’s feast, and sing for both Holy Thursday and Pentecost at Church of the Nativity. CISM faculty will return from teaching at the CMAA sacred music colloquium to teach our summer courses from June 29th through July 31st. The summer will conclude with our Chant Camp August 3 to 7.
Finally, we marked the one-year anniversary of the passing of our beloved faculty member, Dr. William Mahrt on January 1, 2026. We continue to pray for the repose of his soul, and in gratitude to God for all he taught us during his time on this earth.
We hope you can join us for an event upcoming! Please continue to keep us in your prayers. If you would like to donate to support our work, please select “Sacred Music” under “Please direct my support:” at this link.
Our help is in the name of the Lord! May our newborn Lord be first in your heart during this Christmas season!
Our Lady keep you,
Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka
William P. Mahrt Chair in Sacred Music, St. Patrick’s Seminary
Director, Catholic Institute of Sacred Music
by admin | Dec 14, 2025 | News
The Catholic Institute of Sacred Music invites you to an online conference, February 6 and 7, 2026, on the singing of the Divine Office. Featuring 13 talks from 12 top scholars from around the country, topics range from theological and historical to practical and biblical.
Register here.
Speakers and Topics:
- The Spirituality of the Divine Office – Fr. Mark Bachmann, OSB, Choirmaster of Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey
- The Spirituality and Place of the Divine Office in the Lives of the Laity – Dr. Anthony Lilles, St. Patrick’s Seminary, Avila Institute
- The Spirituality of the Sung Office for the Diocesan Priest – Fr. Robert Pasley, Church Music Association of America
- Accompaniment & Accentuation: The Role of the Organ in the Divine Office- Prof. Christopher Berry, Catholic Institute of Sacred Music
- The Hymns of the Divine Office- Sr. Maria Kiely, OSB, Dominican House of Studies, ICEL
- Vocal Technique for Singing the Office – Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka, Catholic Institute of Sacred Music
- Officium Divinum: The Role of Latin in the Celebration of the Divine Office – Gregory DiPippo, Veterum Sapientia Institute
- Progressive Solemnity in the Dominican Office – Fr. Innocent Smith, OP, University of Notre Dame
- The Old Testament Canticles of Lauds: Songs of the New Creation- Dr. Nina Heereman, St. Patrick’s Seminary
- Nihil operi Dei præponatur: The Centrality of the Divine Office in Monastic LifeAbbot Marc Crilly, OSB, St. Benedict’s Abbey
- The Divine Office for the Canons Regular of Prémontré: A Changing Expression of a Perennial Vocation – Fr. Chrysostom Baer, O.Praem., St. Michael’s Abbey, Silverado, CA
- Challenges in Preparing Editions for and Singing the Liturgy of the Hours in Parish Life – Dr. Richard Skirpan, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Harrisburg, PA
- Psalmody Workshop: Pointing, Pacing, and Developing a Community Sound – Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka, Catholic Institute of Sacred Music
Whether you’re a cleric, religious, choir director, or lay faithful seeking to deepen your prayer life through sacred music, this conference will inspire you to make the Church’s universal prayer a vibrant part of your daily rhythm.
Register now and join Catholics from around the world in praising God through the timeless treasure of the Divine Office!
