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Choirs of St. James Cathedral

". . .and so with all the choirs of angels we join in the unending hymn." Every time we assemble for the Eucharistic Liturgy, the texts of the Roman Rite urge us to join our voices to the divine choral music of the celestial city. In an attempt to manifest on earth hints of the heavenly choirs to come, musical resources at St. James Cathedral are focused to an unusual degree on choirs and groups of choirs. At more than 150 services a year, choirs support the choir of the assembly, provide musical commentary on the texts of the Mass, and reveal something of the eternal liturgy in heaven. The fullest image at St. James of this celestial choral adoration is experienced on the Feast of Corpus Christi, when all of the Cathedral choirs join the assembly’s choir, "rank on rank," in the unending hymn: Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus.

The principal choir of St. James Cathedral is the assembly that gathers on Sundays to celebrate the Eucharistic Liturgy. Led by priests, readers, and deacons who chant their rightful music, and supported by Ministers of Holy Communion, servers, and musicians, this great "choir"--often over 1,000 strong--thunders its Thanks be to Gods, Alleluias and Amens. It joins together in the singing of the "Our Father" with fullness and beauty. It performs the hymns, acclamations and responses movingly and robustly--filling the resonant space of the Cathedral in a very real foretaste of the heavenly choirs.

The Cathedral Choir of St. James was founded in 1903 as the "pro-cathedral choir" by E. P. Ederer, and is one of the oldest organizations in Seattle's artistic life. The volunteer choir of 60+ singers supports and enriches the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Liturgy and most major Solemnities. In addition to embellishing the assembly’s choir, the Cathedral Choir sings a repertoire that spans more than a thousand years of sacred and liturgical music, from chant and Latin motets to premieres of new works. An important part of the repertory is contemporary music featuring both Seattle-area composers and such international figures as Tavener, Gorecki, Pärt, Messiaen, and Ebert.

Auditions for the Cathedral Choir are held in August. There is generally a waiting list of singers to join the choir. Dr. James Savage, director. Barbara Cotton, librarian; Joanne Deacy, manager; Ward Johnson, choir chaplain; Glenda Voller, robe mistress.

The Women of St. James Schola is a chant ensemble of approximately 20 women who are committed to prayer and unison singing. The women sing at the Sunday 5:30 p.m. Liturgy and at various other Solemnities and feasts. Though chant-based, the repertory includes American folk hymnody, contemporary motets, Renaissance melodies and staged Medieval chant drama. Auditions are held in August and as space becomes available. There is often a waiting list for this ensemble. Linda Strandberg, associate director; Dr. James Savage, director; Joanne Deacy, manager.

The Cathedral Chant Choir is an ensemble of approximately 14 men who also sing in the Cathedral Choir. They regularly perform the chants of the liturgy at 10:00 a.m. Sunday and at Solemnities. There are currently no openings in this ensemble. Dr. James Savage, director.

The Cathedral Cantorei is a professional ensemble with 16 of the areas outstanding soloists and choral leaders. The individual members of the Cantorei minister as cantors, soloists, and psalmists at all sung liturgies at St. James and at the weekly ecumenical service with music from Taizé--nearly 600 services a year. As a choral ensemble they have performed such works as Haydn's Seven Last Words with orchestra, Dubois’ Seven Last Words, Schütz’s Lobet den Herrn, Charpentier's Messe de Minuit pour Nol and In Nativitatem, Handel's Dixit Dominus, and Mozart's Solemn Vespers. Dr. James Savage, director.

The Schola Cantorum was founded early in the 20th century by the Cathedrals first music director, Dr. Franklin S. Palmer. Originally a boys choir, the 30-member ensemble in its present format includes both girls and boys, ages 10-16. The choir, which provides musical and liturgical training for young people from St. James parish and from neighboring parishes, supports the music at the 12:00 "First Sunday Youth Celebrations," the 5:30 Christmas Eve Vigil, and various archepiscopal liturgies. Stacey Sunde, conductor.

The Saint Cecilia Singers is an intermediate-level children’s training choir. As they develop as liturgical musicians, the choristers regularly sing at 12:00 noon First Sunday Youth Celebrations during the school year. As a part of their training for meter, rhythm and ensemble the group frequently works with mallet percussion instruments and handbells. Rebekah Gilmore, teacher

The Saint Gregory Choir is a beginning choir for children that frequently joins the other children’s choirs at First Sunday Youth Celebrations. Children may join at any time during the school year. This training choir is open to all without audition. Rebekah Gilmore, teacher

Jubilate! is a liturgical choir for young women. They sing once a month for a 12:00 noon mass. Ms. Stacey Sunde, director.

The Cathedral Soloists are six of the areas most respected oratorio singers. In addition to prominent careers outside of the Cathedral, these singers serve as section leaders in the Cathedral Choir and the Cantorei. As the areas only active professional vocal quartet they are able to bring a unique sense of ensemble to such great quartet literature as Mozart’s Requiem and Bach motets. The quartet is featured at concerts and liturgies throughout the year and provides music at the Sunday 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon masses during the summer months. They also provide music at the Cathedrals weddings and funerals.

• Lisa Cardwell Pontén, soprano
• Kathryn Weld, mezzo-soprano
• Howard Fankhauser, tenor
• Norman Smith, bass
• with
• Ya-Li Lee Cheng, soprano
• Linda Strandberg, soprano
• Dr. James Savage, director.

Resident Choirs
Each year, in addition to the Cathedrals own choirs, several leading community choruses are named as "Resident Ensembles." The Cathedral is able, through this program, to provide rehearsal room, publicity, performance opportunities, and recording space as an encouragement to exceptional local choirs that regularly program sacred masterpieces. These ensembles also serve as liturgical choirs at several services during the year. In November of 2001, the resident ensembles joined the Cathedral choirs in a the North American Premiere performance of Shigeaki Saegusa’s Requiem with the 50-piece Cathedral Orchestra. Directors of area choruses apply for 12-month residences in February for the coming year. See our event calendar for the details.

Guest Choral Artist is a designation for an outstanding local chorus that presents important sacred masterworks that are not in the repertory of the Cathedrals ensembles, yet contribute to the overall mission of the Cathedrals music program. The 1998-99 Guest Choral Artist was Northwest Chamber Chorus, Dr. Steven M. Demorest, music director and conductor. The 1999-2000 Guest Choral Artist was Seattle Chamber Singers, George Shangrow, founder and music director. The 2000-2001 Guest Choral Artist was Cappella Romana, Alexander Lingas, conductor. The 2001-2002 Guest Choral artist was LADO, the Croatian Folk and Dance Ensemble. The 2002-2003 Guest Choral Artist was the Seattle Girls' Choir, Dr. Jerome Wright, conductor.  Directors of local choirs apply for Guest Choral Artist positions in February for the coming season.

Recent Guest Choral Artists:
The Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillips, director
The Tudor Choir, Doug Fullington, director
The Cathedral of the Madeleine Choir, Greg Glenn, director

Guest Choir Program - Each year 20-30 touring or local school choirs, community choruses, or parish choirs sing at St. James. Visiting choirs have included Austrias "other" boychoir, the St. Florianer Sängerknaben; The Cascadian Chorale; The Seattle Pacific University Chorale; Portland's Viriditas; The Pacific Lutheran University Choral Union; the Tiffin School Choir (UK); and the Forest Ridge School choir. For information please click here.

Multicultural Choirs - St. James Cathedral is proud to host outstanding Catholic choirs who represent a variety of Archdiocesan communities. Among the many who sing regularly at the Cathedral are the Fil-Am choir, Carmen Pelayre, director; Ignis Polish ensemble of St. Margarets Parish; Ruze Dalmatinke Croatian ensemble, Binki Spahi, soloist; and the various African American choirs of the Immaculate Conception and St. Therese parishes.

All-parish Choir - This popular annual event on the Sunday following Corpus Christi is open to anyone in the parish and has drawn as many as 100 singers. The All-parish Choir also participates in the Madre de Las Americas service. Dr. James Savage, conductor.