Cathedral Music
Music at the Cathedral of St. John is diverse, creative, and widely recognized for its excellence. Special musical events include Choral Evensong services, organ recitals, choir concerts, and guest performances. Our Cathedral Choirs are the foundation of the Cathedral’s music program. They offer sung reflections and prayers, providing a rich tapestry of sound woven through each worship service. Our choral repertoire spans from early plainchant to the 21st century, including works written especially for our choir.
Whether on a Sunday morning or on special holy days such as Christmas and Easter, all are welcome to hear these beautiful musical offerings. Experiencing music in our sacred space, with its unique acoustics and jewel-like stained glass windows, is a feast for the ears, eyes, and soul. We’re fortunate to have The Reuter Organ, one of the finest organs in the Southwest and the largest in New Mexico, to accompany congregational and choral singing and to feature in major works played by our Cathedral organists.
The Cathedral Choirs
The Cathedral Cherubs
The Cathedral Cherubs offers children from ages three to eight a grounding in music and singing with expert instruction. Cherubs participate in occasional services and concerts throughout the liturgical season. More experienced Cherubs may be invited to progress to the Cathedral Chorister program. The Cherubs are directed by Mr. Edmund Connolly, assisted by Ms. Madelynn Jewell.
Rehearsals
Tuesdays
5:45 - 6:15 PM
Sundays
8:30 - 9:00 AM
The Cathedral Choristers
Children aged eight and up prepare and perform the finest choral music for children’s voices. Choristers receive expert instruction in music reading and ensemble performance skills, and enjoy educational experiences and singing concerts through Friends of Cathedral Music events. The Royal School of Church Music provides an annual week-long summer choral residency program, and the Cathedral of St. John sponsors eligible choristers. Dr. Maxine Thévenot directs the Choristers, with assistance from Ms. Jordyn Tatum.
Rehearsals
Tuesdays
5:00 PM chorister education
5:30 - 6:30 PM rehearsal
Sundays
8:30 AM rehearsal, 9:15 AM service
The Cathedral Choir
The purpose of music at the Cathedral of St. John is, quite simply, the musical rendering of the liturgy. This includes chanting plainsong, singing the Ordinary of the Mass, and singing anthems, motets, hymns, and psalms. The repertoire is wide-ranging, from the earliest known medieval music, through the Baroque/Classical/Romantic eras, to the most compelling and beautiful sacred music being written today. The program year typically runs from early September through Pentecost Sunday. The Cathedral Choirs participate in our community outreach and help create new works written especially for them through our annual Cathedral Commissions. The Cathedral Choirs are well known for their internationally released recordings with RavenCD.
The Cathedral Choir is an auditioned ensemble of dedicated, talented volunteer choir members, supported by a small team of section leaders. During the program year, the Cathedral Choir sings at the 11:00 AM service on Sunday mornings, for Choral Evensong services, and, as requested, for all of the church's special feast day services. The Cathedral Choir also serves as the principal choir for choral concerts and participates in national and international choir tours and choral residencies, which are an important part of the Cathedral's mission and evangelism.
The Cathedral Schola is an auditioned ensemble of singers that supports the Cathedral Congregation at the 9:15 AM service each Sunday during the program year. Their principal choral responsibility is to lead the congregation in singing the service, enrich that experience by offering the finest sacred music in the form of service music and hymnody, and occasionally sing an anthem with the Cathedral Choristers. The Cathedral Schola may also be asked to sing for some of the church's special feast day services.
Rehearsals
Tuesdays
7:00-9:00 PM rehearsal
(Cathedral Choir)
Sundays
8:30 AM rehearsal, 9:15 AM service
(Cathedral Schola)
10:15 AM rehearsal, 11:00 AM service (Cathedral Choir)
The Cathedral Organ
Refurbished and expanded in 2002, the Reuter op. 2210 with 102 stops, 65 ranks, and just under 4,000 pipes is the largest pipe organ in New Mexico. The organ is a powerful voice in the context of our liturgy, and organ concerts with visiting artists take place throughout the program year through our Friends of Cathedral Music Series. The stoplist for the organ can be viewed HERE.
Community Outreach
The mission of Friends of Cathedral Music is to enrich the life of the Cathedral of St. John and the broader Albuquerque community through the promotion of music to the glory of God. It does this by sponsoring concerts offered by regionally, nationally, and internationally renowned ensembles and solo artists in our beautiful sacred space, and by facilitating and helping to underwrite expenses related to the Cathedral choirs’ presentation of sacred choral masterworks which exceed the normal bounds of the Cathedral’s rich liturgical life.
New Paragraph