The Diocesan Festival Choir is extending an invitation to men and women of all voice parts to join them at their first practice of the liturgical year Sept. 21 in St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson. The choir performs at various liturgical celebrations in churches throughout the Diocese including St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton; presents seasonal concerts of great masterworks by Faure, Vivaldi and Bach, and sings at the biennial diocesan pilgrimage to Washington.

Shawn Mack, director, shared the reasons seasoned vocalists should consider membership. “The choir is a part of all major diocesan functions such as ordinations, the Chrism Mass and the Anniversary Blessing Mass. Singing in the Basilica (of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception) is an incredible experience. Also, the repertoire mix is of both classical and contemporary, and members can meet singers from different parishes and enjoy fellowship.”

Mack, a graduate of Westminster Choir College, Princeton, also serves as director of music ministry in St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Red Bank, and teaches music in Red Bank Catholic High School. The Diocesan Festival Choir has united with the St. Anthony Parish choir for the past two Christmas seasons to present a concert of masterworks with orchestra. This Christmas, Mack plans for the choir to sing the first two cantatas of Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio.”

For further information, contact director Shawn Mack at 732-859-9189 or email [email protected]. St. Aloysius Parish is located at 935 Bennetts Mills Road, Jackson.