Music Ministry

Saturday 5:00 pm Choir

The Saturday 5:00 pm Choir sings twice a month, rehearsing the Wednesdays before each service from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. It is open to anyone who wishes to help lead the congregation in choral prayer! Though the group sings in four-part harmony, the ability to read music is not required, and there is no audition. New members are always welcome!

To sign up via online registration, please click on the following link: St. Charles Music Ministry Registration Form.

Sunday 9:00 am Choir

The Sunday 9:00 am Choir sings every 9:00 Mass September through mid-June, rehearsing on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. It is open to anyone ages 13 and above who can carry a tune and wishes to help lead the congregation in choral prayer! Though the group sings in four-part harmony, the ability to read music is not required, and there is no audition. New members are always welcome!

To sign up via online registration, please click on the following link: St. Charles Music Ministry Registration Form.

Sunday 10:45 am Choir

The 10:45 am Choir sings every 10:45 am Mass September through mid-June, rehearsing Sunday mornings at 10:15 am before each mass. Attendance at rehearsal before Mass is required to participate at Mass that morning. It is open to anyone who can carry a tune and wishes to help lead the congregation in choral prayer! The ability to read music is not required, and there is no audition. New members are always welcome!

To sign up via online registration, please click on the following link: St. Charles Music Ministry Registration Form.

Men's Choir

This choir sings once a month at various Masses and rehearses select Wednesdays from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. It is open to men who can carry a tune and wish to lead the congregation in choral prayer using the strength of the male voice. Though the group does sing in parts, the ability to read music is not required. New members are always welcome!

To sign up via online registration, please click on the following link: St. Charles Music Ministry Registration Form.

Women's Choir

This choir sings once a month at various masses and rehearses select Wednesdays from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. It is open to women who can carry a tune and wish to lead the congregation in choral prayer using the beauty of the female voice. Though the group does sing in parts, the ability to read music is not required. New members are always welcome!

To sign up via online registration, please click on the following link: St. Charles Music Ministry Registration Form.

Children's Choir

Parish Children's Choir
The Parish Children’s Choir sings once a month, rehearsing every Tuesday from 4:15 pm to 4:45 pm during the school year. All children in Grades 3rd through 8th, whether they attend St. Charles Parish School, local public schools, or are homeschooled, are welcome to join and lead the congregation in choral prayer! New members are always welcome!

School Children's Choir
The School Children’s Choir sings at weekly school Masses, rehearsing every Tuesday from 3:30 pm to 4:00 pm. All St. Charles students in Grades 3rd through 8th and homeschooled parishioners are welcome to join and lead the congregation in choral prayer! New members are always welcome!

To sign up via online registration, please click on the following link: St. Charles Music Ministry Registration Form.

Praise Groups (6:00 pm Life Teen Mass)

There are two praise groups which alternate singing at the 6:00 pm Life Teen Mass. The Youth Praise Group, led by Maria Notch, sings and plays on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month and rehearses before those Masses from 4:30 to 6:00. The Adult Praise Group, facilitated by Pat Walker, plays the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of the month and rehearses on the Tuesday evening prior to the scheduled weekend from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Rehearsal attendance is required to participate in Mass. 

To sign up via online registration, please click on the following link: St. Charles Music Ministry Registration Form.

Handbell Choirs

Youth Handbell Choir
The Youth Handbell Choir plays for selected school Masses once a month as well as selected weekend Masses. Rehearsals are held on Wednesday afternoons from 3:30 pm to 4:00 pm. It is open to 5th to 8th grade students who attend St. Charles Parish School or homeschooled students. The ability to read music is suggested but not required. New members are always welcome!

Parish Handbell Choir
The Parish Handbell Choir is a multi-generational ensemble which provides instrument accompaniment to various parts of select weekend Masses with a stunning four-octave bell set. The groups rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm in the church sanctuary. The ability to read music is suggested but not required. New members are always welcome!

To sign up via online registration, please click on the following link: St. Charles Music Ministry Registration Form.

Resurrection Choir

The Resurrection Choir serves as representatives of the parish bereavement ministry as well as leaders of liturgical music at all parish funerals. Members of the choir must be able to participate easily on a relatively short notice (two to three days before an upcoming funeral). There are no rehearsals, and no auditions are required; though, it is helpful if members are lightly versed in the liturgical music options listed in “Preparing a Funeral Liturgy at St. Charles Parish” PDF which may be found on this website under Funerals under Love Christ. New members are always welcome!

To sign up via online registration, please click on the following link: St. Charles Music Ministry Registration Form.

Cantors/Psalmists

Cantors and psalmists are parishioners who lead the congregation in sung worship. They must possess the ability to sing as a soloist and engage with the assembly, inviting them to join in. A cantor and psalmist is scheduled at every mass year round. St. Charles supports their love for music, liturgy, and service by providing free musical training and faith formation. These vocalists meet with Maria Notch for vocal coaching before every mass in which they serve. During these appointments, they discuss upcoming Sunday readings and the relation the scripture has to the choral music, as well as discussing musical elements of the liturgical music including diction, phrasing, and expression.  

Cantor and psalmist formation is offered year-round for all high school aged singers and above. This unique opportunity for formation promotes personal and musical growth and a sense of community for the volunteers, the Music Ministry Department, and the congregation. One is not required to be a member of any other musical ensemble to join.  Auditions are required.  

If anyone is interested in being trained as a cantor or psalmist, please  contact Maria Notch, Liturgical Music Assistant at mnotch@stcharleshartland.org or Dr. Aaron Mathews, Director of Liturgical Music at amathews@stcharleshartland.org, as well as signing up via online registration, which can be found on the following link: St. Charles Music Ministry Registration Form.

Instrumentalists

Parishioners who have performance knowledge or a particular instrument (strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, or keyboard), especially parish children, are highly encouraged to participate in our liturgies by offering their talents to the parish, whether it be on a regular basis or just for special celebrations. Instrumental meditations and preludes offer a wonderful opportunity for prayer and reflection for both the musician and the congregation. New instrumentalists are always welcome!

To sign up via online registration, please click on the following link: St. Charles Music Ministry Registration Form.