Deadline approaching for Sacred Music Festival in Yarmouth
The registration deadline for the Fall Sacred Music Conference, open to directors of music, cantors, and volunteer choir members from around New England, is Tuesday, October 3.
The three-day conference, which will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main Street in Yarmouth, promises to be an enriching experience featuring the fundamentals of singing, music theory and structure, cantor training, and introduction to chant. Under the guidance of Michael Rocchio, a distinguished international teacher of voice, and Angelia Rocchio, who together founded the International Chant Academy, participants will transform their skills as cantors, delve into the timeless beauty of chant in sung liturgy, master the art of music reading in the context of church choir rehearsal, and explore vocal pedagogy.
Registration
There are two registration options: a three-day immersive package ($225 for all three days) and a la carte ($75 per day). Students, seminarians, and religious can attend all three days for just $105. To register, visit www.pothe.org/sacredmusic, call 207-847-6884, or email [email protected]/
Schedule
On Thursday, October 12, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., participants with learn the “Fundamentals of Singing” from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., including proper, healthy singing technique, vowel formation, intonation, diction techniques, vocal blending, and distinctions in vocal excellence.
On Friday, October 13, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., participants will learn the fundamentals of reading chant notation, focusing on the relationship of chant melody to text. The importance and unique musicality of the chant modes will be revealed.
On Saturday, October 14, an 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. session will focus on “Fundamentals of Music Theory and Structure.” It is a participatory tutorial for choral singers who have little to no knowledge of music theory or structure. Participants will learn about note and rest types and values, time signatures, conducting patterns and stress patterns, clefs, staffs and systems, key signatures, and expression markings.
The 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday session will feature “Transformative Cantoring,” a session meant for singers already serving as cantors who are committed to learning how to be more effective in their roles. Participants will interactively learn the art and techniques of interpreting text and delivering their message with intentionality.
Participants can also join the Sacred Heart Choir in singing the Votive Mass of the Sacred Heart on Friday at 6 p.m., the Novus Ordo Mass of Anticipation on Saturday at 4 p.m., and the Novus Ordo High Mass on Sunday at 11 a.m.
