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Cappella

The principal polyphonic choir of St. Joseph Shrine, singing the great heritage of sacred choral music at the Masses and feasts of the liturgical year.

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Adult Mixed Choir

Cappella is the parish's adult mixed choir (SATB), singing polyphonic sacred music at the principal Masses of the liturgical year. Fall season: September 9, 2026 – January 6, 2027 (Epiphany). Spring season: January 26 – May 27, 2027 (Corpus Christi).

Formation in musical literacy is part of the rehearsal program, making Cappella a home for singers at every stage of their development. Singers new to formal choral training are welcome alongside those with years of experience.

Rehearsals & Season

Wednesday

Weekly Rehearsal

7:00–8:30 pm · St. Joseph Shrine · Choir Loft

Fall

September 9, 2026 – January 6, 2027

18 weeks · 17 rehearsals — no rehearsal on major feasts; the Epiphany closes the season

Spring

January 26 – May 27, 2027

18 weeks · 14 rehearsals — none on Ash Wednesday, in Holy Week or Easter Week, or on Whitsun Ember Wednesday; Corpus Christi closes the season

Masses

Selected Sundays & Major Feasts

Call time 45 min before Mass

Annual highlights

  • Christmas Midnight Mass
  • Ash Wednesday and Holy Week
  • Easter Sunday
  • Corpus Christi (closing Mass of the season)
  • Nuptial Masses (with the Gregorian Chant Schola)

What We Sing

Cappella draws from the full sweep of the Western sacred choral tradition, with an emphasis on Renaissance polyphony and the twentieth-century revival of sacred music composition.

  • Palestrina — Missa Aeterna Christi Munera
  • Palestrina — Sicut Cervus
  • Byrd — Ave Verum Corpus
  • Duruflé — Ubi Caritas

Repertoire is selected by the Director of Music each season. Concurrent enrollment in the Gregorian Chant Schola is encouraged for those who wish to deepen their choral formation.

Joining Cappella

Membership is by audition. A brief, confidential audition — in person or by prerecorded video — determines voice placement and readiness. Fall 2026 auditions are open now.

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