Adult Choir
All God's creatures got a place in the choir!
A Fine Musical Tradition
The origins of St. Margaret Mary Adult Choir are lost in the early history of our parish. Suffice it to say that this fine group of singers have been providing a very high quality of musical leadership for many, many years!
The members of the Adult Choir range in age from 16 to "highly experienced" and are from all walks of life. We have had teachers, software programmers, store clerks, corporate business managers, students, retirees, executives, doctors, secretaries, and even an airline pilot! Some are trained musicians, some have no musical background at all. No matter where they come from they all share one thing - a love and passion for choral singing and a desire to use their gifts, small or great, to sing praise to the Lord.
Under the baton of director Fergal King for 13 years now, the choir's principal ministry is providing music for the 9 AM Sunday liturgy and for the "high" liturgies of Christmas and Holy Week. They also perform in a couple of concerts each year. In 2001 they brought their ministry abroad with a concert tour to Ireland, and another to Italy in 2004. A third tour is on the cards, but plans are on hold for the moment due to the current economic situation.
Members also have the opportunity to participate in Cathedral Liturgies such as Ordination and Chrism Mass at St. Peter Cathedral in Rockford, IL, at their option. A number of choir members recently performed at the National Association of Pastoral Musicians Convention in Chiacago, the EWTN Family Life Conference in DeKalb, and the Rockford Diocesan Centennial Mass, also in DeKalb.
A simple audition is required to join the choir and membership is open year round. Prospective members should be able to hold a tune, have a passion for music and be willing to play (and sing!) well with others! The ability to read music is helpful but not required.
Rehearsals are Thursdays, 8:00 - 9:30 PM, September thru May, and the choir sings at 9 AM Mass September thru July.
For info on other adult singing groups please see the Small Ensembles page.
Members of St. Margaret Mary Adult and Youth Choirs performed with others at the 2009 NPM (Nat'l Assoc. of Pastoral Musicians) Convention in Chicago as part of Fr. Ronald Rolheiser's, S.J., opening keynote address.