The Diocese of Madison is scheduled to host two sacred music events in December.
On Sunday, Dec. 3, the Diocesan Schola will lead Solemn Choral Vespers and Benediction, and on Sunday, Dec. 17, the Diocesan Choir and Chamber Orchestra are featured in a Lessons and Carols service. …
December 18 saw the Madison Diocesan Choir Advent Lessons and Carols back for the first time in three years.
Its future no longer in doubt, the Madison Diocesan Choir returns to celebrate Lessons and Carols on Sunday, Dec. 18, at Holy Name Heights in Madison resuming a long-running tradition interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A simple gift, heralding the true meaning of Christmas. That’s what the Madison Diocesan Choir and its director, Dr. Patrick Gorman, offer Sunday, Dec. 22, with Bishop Donald J. Hying presiding over their Lessons & Carols liturgical service at Holy Name Heights.
With flute, harp, and grand organ, the Madison Diocesan Choir and director Dr. Patrick Gorman will celebrate Advent with a Lessons & Carols concert on Sunday, Dec. 16, always a joyful event as Christmas draws near, although a sad occasion for many this year.
St. John the Baptist Parish in Montello and Good Shepherd Parish in Westfield are again presenting an evening of Lessons and Carols on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Church in Montello.
MADISON — Enter the quiet chapel at Holy Name Heights, walk down the aisle, then turn and look to the balcony. The pews are gone, and an organ console is visible. That’s different. Otherwise, not much to see, nothing all that remarkable.
Yet, there is now something truly noteworthy in the choir loft. Behind a wall of organ swell shades are the pipes and inner workings of a superb instrument, an Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ, old and used, but newly restored and installed in the chapel.
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| At the Advent/Christmas party sponsored by the Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities are, from left: Katie Gorman, one of the newest members of the Madison Diocesan Choir; her father, Dr. Patrick Gorman, director of the choir for over 25 years; and Pat Paska, a member of the choir since its beginning nearly 45 years ago. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash) |
MADISON — Much as O Come All Ye Faithful is a favorite known by all since childhood, the opening hymn of Lessons & Carols will become a glorious new sound Sunday, Dec. 17.
That’s when Dr. Patrick Gorman directs the Madison Diocesan Choir and all present, accompanied by a classic pipe organ described as magical, restored, and installed in the Holy Name Heights chapel.
“I have literally been working on this since I arrived in Madison,” said Gorman, now in his 26th year as director. “We put together so many different proposals, and it’s always been, ‘We can’t afford it! We can’t afford it.’
“New pipe organs are extraordinarily expensive. Then we started to look at organs that have come out of churches.”
With the help of Bruce Case of Case Pipe Organ Company in Verona, an exceptional pipe organ was found in Kenosha at the First Congregational Church that closed in 2013.
Though silent for years, the organ was in surprisingly good condition. The new owners, an evangelical congregation, had no use for it and agreed to sell it.
Thanks to a generous gift from the estate of the late Msgr. Delbert Schmelzer, the Diocese of Madison was able to buy and restore the pipe organ, built by the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company in Boston nearly 70 years ago.
According to Case, it rivals the commanding Klais organ in the Madison Overture Center, and in some respects is superior.
MADISON — For more than 25 years, the Madison Diocesan Choir has celebrated the birth of Christ with its Festival of Lessons and Carols, and the worship service on Sunday, Dec. 18, at Holy Name Heights promises to be a celebration like no other.
Unlike earlier concerts featuring a professional brass ensemble, string section, acclaimed vocalists, or soloists on harp or horn, this event offers the angelic voices of youth, featuring the Cardinal Cantors of St. Maria Goretti Catholic School in Madison as special musical guests.
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| The Madison Diocesan Choir, under the direction of Dr. Patrick Gorman, presented a Festival of Lessons and Carols at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Center in Madison on December 20. Bishop Robert C. Morlino presided at the Advent service. Joining the choir this year was the St. Raphael Brass Quintet and timpani. (Contributed photo by Ken Halfmann) |
MADISON — The Madison Diocesan Choir gives a special gift to the Diocese of Madison each year during the holiday season.
The choir presented its annual Festival of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, Dec. 20, in the chapel of the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Center.
Bishop Robert C. Morlino presided at the service, which includes Scripture readings and hymns and songs celebrating the season.
Dr. Patrick Gorman directed the 66-voice choir composed of singers from throughout the diocese.
Enhancing Lessons and Carols this year was the stirring music provided by the St. Raphael Brass Quintet and timpani. Members of the quintet include Robert Rohlfing and Jessica Jensen, trumpet; Matthew Beecher, horn; Brian Whitty, trombone; and David Spies, tuba. Joe Bernstein performed on the timpani.
Glenn Schuster, assistant director of the choir, provided piano accompaniment.
