Parishes to collaborate on choir convention June 20-21
May 15, 2025 at 9:54 a.m.
For the second year, liturgical musicians and choir members from the Diocese’s 97 parishes will have an opportunity to hone their skills, share their love of music and service to the Church during the Second Glorious Choir Convention June 20-21 in St. Agnes Church, Atlantic Highlands.
With the theme, “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren dwelling in unity” which is based on Psalm 133, the convention is a two-day celebration that brings together Catholic musicians and choirs from the Diocese of Trenton and neighboring dioceses. Its aim is “to present the highest art forms of sacred music and musical masterpieces from different musical periods and styles to worship God with excellence and beauty,” according to Malena Towers, music minister in St. Mary Parish, Middletown, and founder and artistic director of the GCC.
Towers recalled that there were about 100 participants at last year’s inaugural convention, including members from the adult and children choirs and orchestra from St. Mary Parish; the Diocesan Festival Choir, and the choir from the Oratory Church of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Red Bank. Towers initiated the Choir Convention as a way to bring parish choirs together where members could network and share their experiences as music ministers serving the Church.
She noted that with this year’s collaboration between St. Mary Parish and Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Agnes Parish, the convention will offer “a weekend of masterfully crafted worship, songs, musical training and evangelization.”
On Friday evening, the conference will open with a 7 p.m. Sacred Music Gala with the Glorious Choir and Orchestra and introduction of speakers.
The following day will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will include a series of master classes and sessions led by conductors, music teachers, church musicians and sacred music directors.
From 9 to 11 a.m. participants will meet for rehearsal for the Grand Choral Mass to be celebrated later that day … Conductors are Towers and Peter Carter, music minister in St. John the Baptist Parish, Allentown, and Aquinas Institute, the Catholic campus ministry in Princeton University.
From 11:15 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., Courtney Grogan, music director in Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Agnes Parish and a music teacher in St. Mary School, Middletown, will lead a children’s choir master class, “Nurturing Sacred Young Voices Choirs in the Catholic Church.” Also, Frank Slater, a sound engineer professor at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, will lead a sound engineer master class for the “Needs of the Post-Modern Church,” and Rudy Lucente will lead an organ master class for music directors, organists and students.
Lunch will be held from 12:25 to 1:20 p.m.
From 1:20 to 2:20 p.m., Peter Carter will present a master class, “Exploring the Sacred Sound of Chants, Hymns, Psalms and Spiritual Songs of the Catholic Church.
From 2:25 to 3:25 p.m., Malena Towers will lead “Unlocking the Servant Leadership Role of Cantors, Choir Members and Music Directors of the Holy Church of God” and a session on vocal technique.
Also, Beth Moore, will lead a piano master class, “The Interpretation and Appropriate Technique of Pianists” as they collaborate with cantors and choirs of the Catholic Church.
The day will round out with a Grand Choral Mass at 4 p.m. followed by a reception and then a 6 p.m. performance at the Atlantic Highlands Gazebo.
Towers noted that in November, the Glorious Choir of St. Mary Parish is spearheading a trip to Rome and will join choirs from throughout the world to sing at the Choir Jubilee at the Vatican as well as in different churches of Rome.
Reflecting on how the Glorious Choir Convention was started, Towers said it was with the "vision to rescue choirs and the excellence and beauty of sacred choral music that should be present in all of our services and masses to God.”
When the pandemic severely affected the way Catholics worship and dwindled choirs across the nation, she said she felt compelled to invite singers from all churches, where their choirs stopped singing, to join the St. Mary Choir where she serves as director. The Glorious Choir of St. Mary Church was founded in 2022, with 100 voices and a special musical offering with a Christmas service and cantata.
Towers proceeded to create a full orchestra to accompany the choir. Last year she was inspired to give all the parishes in the Diocese as well as the surrounding area the opportunity to participate in a two-day Choir Convention. This concert invited all the participating choirs to sing and it also provided a time for the guest speakers to host masterclasses and workshops on relevant topics related to music ministry -- cantors, choir members, musicians who are in need of training and are looking for opportunities to learn and continue developing their gifts unto the Lord, she said.
As the date for the 2025 Glorious Choir Convention approaches, Towers encourages all the faithful to attend the “Grand Choral Mass” at 5 p.m. on June 21.
Pre-registration fee to attend the convention is $50 per person and $15 for children’s choir members.
To register for the convention, visit stmarychurchnj.org/musicministry.
For more information, contact Towers at [email protected].
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For the second year, liturgical musicians and choir members from the Diocese’s 97 parishes will have an opportunity to hone their skills, share their love of music and service to the Church during the Second Glorious Choir Convention June 20-21 in St. Agnes Church, Atlantic Highlands.
With the theme, “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren dwelling in unity” which is based on Psalm 133, the convention is a two-day celebration that brings together Catholic musicians and choirs from the Diocese of Trenton and neighboring dioceses. Its aim is “to present the highest art forms of sacred music and musical masterpieces from different musical periods and styles to worship God with excellence and beauty,” according to Malena Towers, music minister in St. Mary Parish, Middletown, and founder and artistic director of the GCC.
Towers recalled that there were about 100 participants at last year’s inaugural convention, including members from the adult and children choirs and orchestra from St. Mary Parish; the Diocesan Festival Choir, and the choir from the Oratory Church of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Red Bank. Towers initiated the Choir Convention as a way to bring parish choirs together where members could network and share their experiences as music ministers serving the Church.
She noted that with this year’s collaboration between St. Mary Parish and Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Agnes Parish, the convention will offer “a weekend of masterfully crafted worship, songs, musical training and evangelization.”
On Friday evening, the conference will open with a 7 p.m. Sacred Music Gala with the Glorious Choir and Orchestra and introduction of speakers.
The following day will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will include a series of master classes and sessions led by conductors, music teachers, church musicians and sacred music directors.
From 9 to 11 a.m. participants will meet for rehearsal for the Grand Choral Mass to be celebrated later that day … Conductors are Towers and Peter Carter, music minister in St. John the Baptist Parish, Allentown, and Aquinas Institute, the Catholic campus ministry in Princeton University.
From 11:15 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., Courtney Grogan, music director in Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Agnes Parish and a music teacher in St. Mary School, Middletown, will lead a children’s choir master class, “Nurturing Sacred Young Voices Choirs in the Catholic Church.” Also, Frank Slater, a sound engineer professor at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, will lead a sound engineer master class for the “Needs of the Post-Modern Church,” and Rudy Lucente will lead an organ master class for music directors, organists and students.
Lunch will be held from 12:25 to 1:20 p.m.
From 1:20 to 2:20 p.m., Peter Carter will present a master class, “Exploring the Sacred Sound of Chants, Hymns, Psalms and Spiritual Songs of the Catholic Church.
From 2:25 to 3:25 p.m., Malena Towers will lead “Unlocking the Servant Leadership Role of Cantors, Choir Members and Music Directors of the Holy Church of God” and a session on vocal technique.
Also, Beth Moore, will lead a piano master class, “The Interpretation and Appropriate Technique of Pianists” as they collaborate with cantors and choirs of the Catholic Church.
The day will round out with a Grand Choral Mass at 4 p.m. followed by a reception and then a 6 p.m. performance at the Atlantic Highlands Gazebo.
Towers noted that in November, the Glorious Choir of St. Mary Parish is spearheading a trip to Rome and will join choirs from throughout the world to sing at the Choir Jubilee at the Vatican as well as in different churches of Rome.
Reflecting on how the Glorious Choir Convention was started, Towers said it was with the "vision to rescue choirs and the excellence and beauty of sacred choral music that should be present in all of our services and masses to God.”
When the pandemic severely affected the way Catholics worship and dwindled choirs across the nation, she said she felt compelled to invite singers from all churches, where their choirs stopped singing, to join the St. Mary Choir where she serves as director. The Glorious Choir of St. Mary Church was founded in 2022, with 100 voices and a special musical offering with a Christmas service and cantata.
Towers proceeded to create a full orchestra to accompany the choir. Last year she was inspired to give all the parishes in the Diocese as well as the surrounding area the opportunity to participate in a two-day Choir Convention. This concert invited all the participating choirs to sing and it also provided a time for the guest speakers to host masterclasses and workshops on relevant topics related to music ministry -- cantors, choir members, musicians who are in need of training and are looking for opportunities to learn and continue developing their gifts unto the Lord, she said.
As the date for the 2025 Glorious Choir Convention approaches, Towers encourages all the faithful to attend the “Grand Choral Mass” at 5 p.m. on June 21.
Pre-registration fee to attend the convention is $50 per person and $15 for children’s choir members.
To register for the convention, visit stmarychurchnj.org/musicministry.
For more information, contact Towers at [email protected].