Schola Immaculata
Advanced choir in honor of the Immaculate Conception

• Auditioned SATB ensemble of adults and teens: strong music readers with robust choral experience.
• Rehearses Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30pm from September through early June.
• Regularly sings for Sunday 11am Solemn Mass + select Holy Days.
• Repertoire: Gregorian Propers and Ordinaries, acappella polyphony in 4-8 parts, sacred choral music from across the centuries through today, and traditional hymnody.

Schola Caritatis
Community choir in honor of St. Anne, Mother of Charity

• For male and female adult/teen singers of varying skill and experience levels (beginner-intermediate).
• “Voice check” with director determines pitch matching skills and section placement. Music literacy not required. Vocal and theory training integrated into choir rehearsals.
• Rehearses Thursdays, 6:30-8:00/30pm from September through early June.
• Sings usually two Sundays/month for 9am Mass, along with select holy days.
• Repertoire: vernacular plainchant propers, foundational Gregorian chants in Latin, intermediate choral works in 2-4 parts, and traditional hymnody.

Schola Laetitiae
Teens, “Joy of the Lord” (Ps 43:4)

• Young men and women ages 13-19 are guided in vocal development, prayerful leadership, holy friendships, and love of the liturgy through immersion in the rich tradition of sacred music.
• New members: “Voice check” with director determines pitch matching skills and section placement. Music literacy not required. Vocal and theory training integrated into choir rehearsals.
• Rehearses Thursdays, 4:00-5:45pm from mid-September through early June.
• Sings once or twice per month for varied weekend/holy day Mass times.
• Repertoire: Gregorian chant in Latin and English, choir anthems and motets selected to satisfy and challenge, harmony in 3-4 or more parts, and traditional hymnody.

Schola Animae
Youth, “Life of the Soul” (Psalm 150:1,6)

• Treble boys and girls, grades 2-8 receiving vocal and spiritual formation in the art of sung prayer, nourished by the great tradition of sacred song in accord with the liturgical year, and growing in music literacy.
• New 2nd graders: language reading and pitch matching readiness assessment with director before enrollment.
• Rehearses Mondays, 4:00-5:15pm from mid-September through first week of June.
• Sings once a month for Mass (usually at 9:00 or 11:00).
• Repertoire: English plainchant, fundamental Latin Gregorian chants, unison and 2-part anthems and motets, canons, and traditionally hymnody.
• Schola Animae is part of the  American Federation Pueri Cantores, with grade 4-8 participating in an annual Phoenix Festival in February or March (all day on a Saturday).
• Junior high age boys whose voices have already dropped are eligible for Schola Laetitiae after a placement meeting with the Director.

Schola Lucis
Preparatory Children’s Choir, “Light of God”

• Boys and girls, grades preK-grade 2.
• Choir class Wednesdays, 4:00-4:45pm from early October through first week of June.
• Class size kept small (15-20 students) so that our youngest choristers can receive a foundation in bodily awareness, vocal exploration, pitch matching, liturgical spirituality, listening skills, and teamwork.
• As a “preparatory choir”, Lucis does not sing yet for Holy Mass, but joins with Schola Animae to sing preludes for Christmas Eve 4pm Mass, and joins with all choirs to participate in the Spring Concert (end of May), giving them a culminating event for each semester.

Spanish Choir: Schola Nazarena
in honor de la Sagrada Familia de Nazaret 

• Adults and teens
• Rehearses Thursday late evenings and sings regularly for Sunday 1:30pm Spanish Mass.
• Contact Spanish Music Leader, Francisco Santos if interested.

Special Event Scholas
Adults and teens who cannot commit to regular involvement with any of our scholas, but who are seasoned vocalists and good music readers may request to be on call for special event combo scholas (ie Midnight Mass, Parish Feast Day, Concert).

Cantors
Individuals with cantor and chant experience are relied upon for weekend and holy day Masses without choirs. If interested to offer your services in this capacity (either as a volunteer or to inquire about paid cantor opportunities), please contact the Director.

Accompanists
While the Saturday 4pm Vigil and Sunday 7am Masses are routinely acappella, other weekend Masses typically are accompanied by organ and/or piano. If you have experience as an organist, please contact our Director to discuss an audition and paid opportunities.

Instrumentalists
Adult and teens seasoned in string, woodwind, or brass instruments and interested in being part of sacred music at St. Anne are invited to contact the director for an audition. Opportunities are currently focused on high holy days and parish orchestra for Spring Concert.

Sound Board Volunteers
If you have a keen ear, are tech-savvy, and interested to support the parish as a volunteer in our trained sound board team for liturgies and events, reach out to Claire to discuss.

How do I know which schola to join?
Review the above overview for each ensemble. Adults: not sure if Schola Immaculata or Schola Caritatis would be the fit for you? Just complete the interest form and set up a meeting with the director.

What skills do I need to join choir?
A love of (or at least interest in) worshipping our Lord with your voice. Desire to grow as a disciple and as a member of the parish family. A prayerful spirit and willingness to learn alongside others. Basic pitch-matching ability is a prerequisite for all Scholas except for Schola Lucis, in which vocal navigation is part of the developmental training.

What will I learn?

Musical training provided at a developmentally-tailored level for each ensemble: ear training, score literacy in modern and chant notations, interactive music theory, intonation, tone quality, harmony, diction, solfege, rhythm, and more.

Spiritual training provided through focus on the meaning of each sacred text, immersion in sung Scripture, historical and catechetical context, and attunement to the liturgical calendar.

Can I join at any part of the year?

While we always invite and recruit new members during summer in preparation for the upcoming choir season, adults can inquire at any time and join mid-season. (Once an adult joins one of our scholas, we assume your membership continues from one season to the next, until/unless you communicate a state change).

Each summer, all choirs have a break during June through August. Youth choirs for Scholas Laetitiae, Animae, and Lucis have enrollment during the month of August and do not generally accept new members once we are into the school year.

Does it cost anything?
There are no enrollment or participation fees for adult or youth choirs. The only fees involved are uniforms costs for Schola Laetitiae and Schola Animae (though this should not be an inhibitor to participation). Donations to support the many need of such a large choir program are welcome at any time!

What supplies do I need?
We provide each chorister with a binder, all musical scores and all learning materials. Just bring a great attitude and water bottle!

Other requirements?

All adults 18 and older are required to be Safe Environment compliant per the Diocese of Phoenix annual training.

Catholic choir members are expected to be living in communion with the Church’s teaching, including on marriage and family. Non-catholics are welcome to join if you are comfortable being in a “very Catholic” environment and understand that reception of the Holy Eucharist is only for practicing Catholics. Choristers are expected to follow guidelines for attire and behavior for rehearsals and liturgies.

Other special events or opportunities in this ministry?
Adults and teens have a day retreat each Spring on a Saturday (usually somewhere off-site, within 1 hour of Gilbert). All choirs participate in our end-of-season concert the end of May, which includes a handful of dedicated rehearsals. Other involvement opportunities include periodic holy day scholas and select summertime events.

Can I make a donation for St. Anne Sacred Music?
Yes! You can visit stanneaz.org/sacred-music-giving or contact the Director to inquire about particular sponsorship interests. God reward you!