Musicians On Mission: 2025 CMAA Colloquium

I've just returned from a fabulous week away at the 35th Annual Church Music Association of America Sacred Music Colloquium. The music and the liturgies were sublime, and the atmosphere of a retreat was felt throughout the experience as we prayed together with reverence and joy.

Our daily schedule looked something like this:

7:30am - Breakfast

8:30am - Morning Prayer

9:00am - Choral Warm Up

9:25am - Chant Rehearsal

11:00am - Plenary Talk

12:00pm - Lunch

1:00pm - Breakout Session

2:15pm - Polyphony Rehearsal

4:00pm - Mass

5:30pm - Dinner

7:30pm - Night Prayer

Each day we had a warm up from one of the brilliant conductors who led our choirs each day: Dr. Christopher Berry (St. Patrick's Seminary, Menlo Park CA), Dr. Alfred Calabrese (St. Rita Catholic Church, Dallas TX), Dr. Horst Bucholz (Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit MI), and Dr. David Hughes (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Littleton CO). We broke out into different chant scholas based on our ability and interest. The two primary scholas were the men's and women's scholas, directed by Fr. Mark Bachmann, O.S.B. (Clear Creek Abbey, OK), and Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka (St. Patrick's Seminary, Menlo Park CA). There was also a beginner's & intermediate level schola, and a chant conducting schola (Directed by Dr. David Hughes), which focused primarily on the art of chironomy, or chant conducting. That was what I signed up for, and boy did I learn a lot! I even had the opportunity to conduct some of a chant before we left the colloquium!

Plenary talks given each day were inspirational and really got to the heart of the mission of the CMAA: sacred music in every parish. We took time to understand the need for sacred music, and to do it in such a way that the definition of 'sacred music' is fulfilled by the practice of making music in worship. Of note, Bishop Andrew Cozzens from the Diocese of Crookston gave a talk on music and the Eucharist, highlighting our musical involvement within the sacrifice of the Mass through which we participate in the Eucharist feast. It was a sincere joy to hear one of our bishops stand up for sacred music, and not only talk about the ideas behind the actions, but to pastorally offer wisdom for practical application of the liturgical rubrics and the ideals of the Catholic Church.

(photos courtesy of Matt Haan)

The chant scholas and polyphony choirs rehearsed each day to prepare music for our daily Masses. I was in Dr. Bucholz's choir, as well as the section leader ensemble, and here is the repertoire we got to sing:

Tuesday, June 24

Communion – Inter natos mulierum, Mozart (conducted by Buchholz)

Wednesday, June 25  Mass for St. Joseph, Kyrie, Sanctus McGough (*world premiere!*) Offertory – Adjutor et protector, McGough (*world premiere!*)

Thursday, June 26, 2025      (Mass) Communion – Versa est in luctum, Bianciardi

(Vespers) Magnificat Primi Toni, De Rore (conducted by Calabrese)

Friday, June 27, 2025      Missa Laudate Dominum, Credo, Lasso      Communion – Ave verum corpus, Dering 

Saturday, June 28, 2025      Haydn Lord Nelson Mass (tutti)

There is a lot of content here, and even this doesn't nearly grasp the depth and substance of our beautiful gathering. I very much hope to be in attendance again next year, and make a regular trip for the Colloquium wherever it happens to be. To anyone interested in carrying the mantle of our heritage in sacred music and championing the beauty of the Catholic liturgy into our modern world: this gathering is for you, and I hope to see you there next year!

-McChoir