Venue: St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church (UNL Newman Center) Type of Event: Catholic Ceremony within a Mass My Role: I was hired as the music coordinator and one of the vocalists. I met with couple to discuss all their music choices, which instruments would play on which song, and offer my insight on various parts of the Mass. I then got in touch with the other four musicians, which were all friends/family of the couple, and made sure they had all the music they needed, sent them practice videos, and made sure they knew when and where rehearsal would be before the ceremony. My "Save-the-Day" Moment: Due to the Coronavirus, things didn't go quite as planned... originally Mark and Morgan were supposed to get married on April 18th and have a choir of four people with an organist, pianist, and guitarist, but because of the 10-person limit on gatherings all that changed, and with only three days notice I was able to attend as their 10th person without even an accompanist, and so I provide all the vocal music a cappella, and used recordings for the instrumental music. I arrived at the ceremony an hour and a half early to do a sound check with the venue's live-streaming equipment and met with the priest before the ceremony to discuss any last minute changes. Because their wedding was now taking place during Lent, the main things I had to change (with 30 minutes until the ceremony) was changing the Celtic Alleluia to the Lenten "Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ..." and rewriting the the acclamation verse to fit this setting, and I also had to get creative with the offertory hymn since it had an "alleluia" in the refrain.
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Venue: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
Type of Event: Women's Retreat My Role: I was one of vocalists part of the Praise and Worship Team. We led the women in praise and worship songs during the retreat and during adoration. They always comment at the end of the day how much they love the music and that they wish there was more opportunity in the day's schedule for more music. This year I also played a greater role in actually helping set up and making sure that the musicians had all the equipment they needed set up prior to the event. Venue: St. Antoninus Catholic Church Type of Event: Catholic Ceremony within a Mass My Role: I was hired as music coordinator and soloist. I met with the couple to offer song suggestions and then helped them choose the perfect songs from their first, second, and third choices. I also suggested a collaboration for the offertory hymn with another vocalist who I knew was invited and it turned out beautifully. Professional photography by John Klare Photography, Cincinnati, Ohio
Location: St. Gerald Catholic Church
Type of Event: Catholic Ceremony within a Mass My Role: I was hired as one of two vocalists and was able to work collaboratively with the pianist to offer song suggestions to the couple. We had a lot of fun working out the music together! Location: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
Type of Event: Catholic Ceremony within a Mass My Role: I was hired as the soloist; the pianist/music coordinator was already hired so all I had to do was show up and sing :) Location: St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church
Type of Event: Catholic Ceremony within a Mass My Role: I was hired as the soloist and music coordinator with only three months until the wedding. I worked remotely with the mother of the bride to plan all the music as they were all from Illinois. My "Save-the-Day" Moment: Originally they wanted a family member to play the piano which was fine with me. Two weeks before the wedding, the mother I was working with told me that the family member had not practiced sufficiently and they desperately needed help finding a new pianist. Within 24 hours I was able to secure a pianist from my network who was willing to play the standard Mass parts and typical hymns. It just so happens that I knew how to play the instrumental piece they wanted for the offertory, so I played that piece, and for the prelude pieces they wanted, I found instrumental recordings and played them through the sound system since the church didn't allow "karaoke singing" with recordings. Location: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
Type of Event: Women's Healing Retreat My Role: I was one of vocalists as part of the Praise and Worship Team. We led the women in praise and worship songs during the retreat and during adoration. They always comment at the end of the day how much they love the music and that they wish there was more opportunity in the day's schedule for more music.
Location: St. John's Parish, Creighton University
Type of Event: Catholic Ceremony within a Mass My Role: I was hired as the music coordinator and solo vocalist. I met with the couple to plan out their music and was able to get music for a few special arrangement requests. I also helped them find a pianist from my network of musicians. My "Save-the-Day" Moment: A month before the wedding, the pianist reached out to me to let me know that she wasn't comfortable with the amount of music she had to learn for a Catholic Mass. I was able to secure a new pianist at the last minute without putting any stress on the couple. Location: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church Type of Event: Catholic Ceremony within a Mass My Role: I was hired as the solo vocalist. The parish pianist/music coordinator was already hired, so all I had to do was show up and sing :) Venue: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
Type of Event: Easter Sunday Mass My Role: I was the cantor for the 7:30am Mass (after singing with the choir at the vigil, mind you). My main responsibility was leading the congregation in singing the hymns, psalms, sequence, and Mass parts. Venue: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
Type of Event: Easter Vigil Mass My Role: I was a cantor and section leader for the choir. The Easter Vigil Mass is probably one of, if not the, longest liturgy in the Novus Ordo (modern rite) lasting approximately 2.5-3 hours. There is a lot of singing from the Exultet, hymns, at least three or four psalms, acclamations, Mass parts, and the special rites of the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation which have their own songs. It is truly a beautiful liturgy to experience. Location: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
Type of Event: Women's Healing Retreat My Role: I was one of vocalists as part of the Praise and Worship Team. We led the women in praise and worship songs during the retreat and during adoration. They always comment how much they love the music and that they wish there was more opportunity in the day's schedule for more music. Location: Roper and Sons Funeral Home
Type of Event: Funeral Service My Role: I was asked to sing one song as a soloist, The Lord's Prayer, and one song with two other singers, On Eagles' Wings. It was a beautiful service. *Video filmed at a later date. Location: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
Type of Event: Confirmation Retreat My Role: I was one of the vocalists for the Praise and Worship Team. We led songs throughout the retreat and during Adoration for the 8th graders preparing for Confirmation. Venue: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church Type of Event: Easter Vigil Mass My Role: I was a co-director and cantor for the Easter Vigil Choir. The Easter Vigil Mass is probably one of, if not the, longest liturgy in the Novus Ordo (modern rite) lasting approximately 2.5-3 hours. There is a lot of singing from the Exultet, hymns, at least three or four psalms, acclamations, Mass parts, and the special rites of the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation which have their own songs. It is truly a beautiful liturgy to experience. Photos: Facebook.com/huskercatholic
Location: St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church Type of Ceremony: Catholic Ceremony within a Mass My Role: I was hired as the soloist and collaborated with pianist to work out the music choices. The music was simple, yet elegant, including a rendition of The Prayer, complete with the Italian lyrics, and I was introduced to one of my now favorite hymns: Worthy is the Lamb. |
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