Choral Ensembles

The 2 p.m. Choir at Mater Dolorosa in South San Francisco brings together talented vocalists who share a passion for Gregorian chant, polyphony, and contemporary sacred compositions. Their work aims to draw souls to Christ through the pursuit of musical excellence and beauty. The core of the ensemble is a professional octet of singers which render polyphonic works (motets and masses) and leads a group of additional volunteer singers in rendering Gregorian chant. A mandatory rehearsal precedes the 2:00 p.m. Mass, with 12:30-12:45 devoted to growth in vocal technique and music reading, followed by a chant rehearsal from 12:45-1:30. Singers may audition for the part of the ensemble that sings only the hymns and chants for the Mass, or if they have significant experience singing Renaissance polyphony, they may also audition for the polyphonic group which continues in rehearsal from 1:30-1:55. The ensemble, unaffiliated with CISM, is directed by Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka.

The mission of the Archbishop’s Schola is to sing the Catholic Church’s treasury of sacred music for the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful. The ensemble aims to promote the Archbishop’s vision of beauty in the liturgical life of the Archdiocese of San Francisco by singing a substantial repertory of sacred music for liturgies celebrated by the Archbishop of San Francisco, and to build up a culture in which choral sacred music is prayed, appreciated, and sung with skill and regularity. The ensemble, unaffiliated with CISM, is directed by Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka.

The mission of St. Patricks Seminary Schola Cantorum is to sing for the glory of God and edification of those who hear them in the context of the sacred liturgy at St. Patrick’s Seminary. The ensemble is open only to seminarians by audition. They sing for solemn liturgies (Mass and Evening Prayer), rendering the Proper and Ordinary of the Mass, as well as hymns and choral music, in English, Spanish, and Latin. Additionally, the students sing once per week in smaller ensembles, singing the Ordinary of the Mass, as well as vernacular-language propers. Adjacent to this mission is the welcome the ensemble gives once yearly when they sing Advent and Christmas music in a concert open to the public. This ensemble, open to seminarians studying at St. Patrick’s Seminary,  is directed by Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka.