Introducing the St. Monica Schola Cantorum!
Q. What is a Schola Cantorum?
A. Quite literally, the Latin words “schola cantorum” translate as “school of singing”. Historically, this school of singing was specifically dedicated to training up singers to render the music of the Mass.
St. Monica is proud to carry on the tradition of the schola cantorum!
On this page, you’ll learn about the various scholae at the Catholic Church of Saint Monica.
Please contact Bridget Scott at BScott@saintmonicas.com if you or your children are interested in singing with any of these groups
Youth Scholae
St. Agnes Novice Schola
St. Agnes Novices (mixed boys and girls) is the primary foundational schola for all first-year treble singers ages 7-10. The aim of the Novice Schola is to give children who are new to singing and reading music the opportunity to learn and ask questions without the pressure of performance. Singers are introduced to solfège and neumes (the notation of plainchant), but primarily the schola focuses on training the voice and the mind of the singer.
- The St. Agnes Novice Schola will occasionally join their respective ensembles (St. Dominic Savio Boy Schola or St. Cecilia Girl Schola) at various Masses throughout the year in order to observe the flow of Holy Mass from the perspective of a chorister.
- This schola meets four times a month on Wednesdays from 4:00 to 4:30.
Requirements: Children should be reading and will be asked to pass a simple reading test. Children must have the maturity to make it through Mass without needing distractions (toys, trips to the bathroom, snacks, water, etc.).
St. Cecilia Girl Schola
The St. Cecilia Girl Schola is the parish treble-voiced schola for girls ages 8-14. This ensemble is primarily educational and sings with the Schola Caeciliana or The St. Hildegard Schola for various Sundays and feast-days throughout the year.
- All first-year choristers ages 7-10 will be placed in the Novice Schola before entering the St. Cecilia Girl Schola.
- First-year choristers ages 11-14 will be auditioned to determine their suitability to sing in this schola.
- This schola meets four times a month on Wednesdays from 4:40 to 5:15.
St. Dominic Savio Boy Schola
The St. Dominic Savio Boy Schola is the parish treble-voiced schola for boys ages 8-13. The ensemble is primarily educational and sings with the St. Gregory the Great Schola or the St. Ambrose Schola Cantorum for various Sundays and feast-days throughout the year.
- All first-year choristers age 7-10 will be placed in the Novice Schola before entering the St. Dominic Savio Boy Schola.
- First-year choristers ages 11-13 will be auditioned to determine their suitability to sing in this Schola.
- This schola meets four times a month on Wednesdays from 5:25 to 6:00.
Young Adult & Adult Scholae
St. Gregory the Great Schola
The St. Gregory the Great Schola is the primary mixed-voice ensemble for the Traditional Latin Mass. It is open to mature teens and older. Singers joining this schola should have familiarity with reading Gregorian notation and some sight-reading ability. This schola is further divided into the Schola Caeciliana (female voices only) and the Schola Gregoriana (male voices only).
- These ensembles combined provide the Gregorian chants and polyphony for the Traditional Latin Mass, which sings the first Sunday of every month and some Holy Days.
- This schola meets weekly on Wednesday nights from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
St. Ambrose Schola
The St. Ambrose Schola is the primary mixed-voice ensemble for the Novus Ordo 10:45 a.m. Sunday Mass. It is open to mature teens and older. Singers joining this schola receive extensive training in reading chant notation and vocal technique. This schola is further divided into the St. Hildegard Schola (female voices only) and the Schola Cantorum (male voices only).
- These ensembles combined provide the chants and motets for the Novus Ordo Mass which sings weekly and on some Holy Days.
- This schola meets weekly on Thursday nights from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Becoming a Cantor at St. Monica
Cantor opportunities abound at St. Monica’s. Cantors are selected from participants in one of the above scholae and must take part in a vigorous cantor training program. Paid cantors must meet a standard of vocal accomplishment and are selected by the Director of Sacred Music.