The Newman Chapel Choir
‘The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy.’ —Sacrosanctum Concilium, §112.
A vibrant ensemble of McGill students and young professionals from diverse fields, the Newman Chapel Choir is at the heart of Catholic musical life at the University—whether in rehearsal, on retreat, or hosting a workshop with visiting artists. Serving the Chaplaincy, the Choir engages with the fullness of the sacred music tradition. We are rooted in the richness of Gregorian chant and a cappella choral music. Our regular repertoire embraces Palestrina, Victoria, Brahms, Duruflé, as well as Taizé, hymns, and spirituals, and even music by our very own members.
The essential pillars of the choir are:
Dedication to engaging with and learning from the best of the sacred music tradition.
Dedication to musical excellence in beautiful and liturgically & contextually sensitive interpretations.
Dedication to learning and understanding music in terms of its internal musical content, its historical context, the religious tradition from which it emerges, and its meaning in its liturigcal context.
Dedication to being a positive and collegial community.
Weekly rehearsals and services offer students the opportunity to encounter this treasury of the Catholic musical heritage, to engage deeply with the liturgy, hone their musical skills, and to offer their talents in service of their community.
The heart of our activities is singing at the Newman Centre’s Sunday 5pm Mass, at which we sing Gregorian chant from the Graduale Romanum (Solesmes, 1974), choral motets by composers such as Palestrina, spirituals, and devotional hymns. We also sing choral meditations for Advent and Lent, join forces with local parish choirs, and sometimes choral Compline or Vespers.
We are always looking to welcome new singers. Membership in the Choir is open primarily to McGill university students, recent graduates, and alumni/ae, as well as Catholics who are interesting in supporting mission of the Chaplaincy. For information about our repertoire, choir retreats, or auditions, please contact the Director of Music at music@newmancentre.org.
‘Musical sounds … have escaped from some higher sphere; they are the outpourings of eternal harmony in the medium of created sound; they are echoes from our home; they are the voice of angels, or the Magnificat of saints, or the living laws of divine governance, or the divine attributes; something are they besides themselves, which we cannot compass, which we cannot utter …’
—St John Henry Newman (1801–1890)