Welcome to the Rapid City, SD chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.
Latest News
Bilingual Mass On Pentecost
There will be a bilingual Mass on Pentecost, May 11 (Mothers' Day) at 5:00 PM at Blessed Sacrament. This day is of special spiritual importance to our Hispanic community. Please consider being a part of the Bilingual Choir.
The first rehearsal will be at Blessed Sacrament on May 3 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM in the theater downstairs. There will be a wedding rehearsal in the Church that day.
The following week on May 10, the rehearsal will be in the church at Blessed Sacrament from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
Hope to see you all there.
St. Martin's Monastery Concert
On Friday, Oct. 5, 2007 the Rapid City NPM (National Association of Pastoral Musicians) chapter presented a concert at St. Martin’s Monastery. Included on the program were choirs from St. Therese’s, Cathedral of OLPH youth and children’s choirs, and Blessed Sacrament funeral choir. The Benedictine sisters sang a selection while the Spiess family plus Maria Munoz led the audience in song. Bishop Blase Cupich commissioned all music ministers present. Continued...
Children's Choir Workshop
On June 23, 2007 NPM with support from the Rapid City Diocese hosted a Children’s Choir Workshop at Blessed Sacrament Church. Nearly thirty adults were in attendance learning choir formational and developmental skills for children’s choirs from two national known clinicians, Janet Vogt and Mark Friedman. Rehearsal techniques were demonstrated while reading several pieces of music appropriate for children. In the afternoon, children from both the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Blessed Sacrament came to share in the experience as a model ensemble. Many items from OCP were offered as free handouts and selections for purchase. In the summer of 2008, Janet and Mark will return to the Rapid City Diocese to spend time working with children from our area culminating in an evening concert. Those parishes interested in participating in this 2008 event are urged to contact Jackie Schnittgrund (342-6132) to help determine appropriate supplies and accommodations. Images of the event are available.
Liturgical Singer Article
Did you know that our NPM chapter president, Jaqueline Schnittgrund, had an article published in the national NPM publication, “Liturgical Singer”? Her piece, “Melody In Worship: Nearer To Thee” appeared in the September 2006 edition. Click here to subscribe to the publication.
ttp://www.npm.org/liturgical_singer/index.html
2006 NPM Choir Festival
On July 14, 2006 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral, nearly seventy singers from throughout the diocese convened to prepare for the first NPM Choir Festival. Through the wonderful efforts of many music ministers in each deanery, practice sessions along with tutorial CDs were used to prepare the singers prior to the festival.
With the financial support of the diocese, NPM was able to utilize the unparalleled expertise of conductor, composer, and teacher, Dr. Tom Porter from Bismarck ND . Holding advanced degrees in music and liturgy from DePaul University , the University of Notre Dame, and the University of Missouri , Dr. Porter aptly prepared the choir for both a Mass followed by a concert on July 15, 2006 . Although the rehearsal time was limited to Friday evening and all day Saturday, the singers performed with a sound that brought many of those in the audience to their feet. The choir was accompanied at different times by a splendidly assembled orchestra of brass, woodwinds, strings, and percussion not to mention pipe organ and piano. At other times the vocalists sang a cappella with a brilliance that was truly heavenly. The music ranged from chant to medieval polyphony...hymnody to spiritual...requiem to Argentinean folk melody...contemporary to Marian. One piece in particular which was written by Dr. Porter, “O Nata Lux,” was especially appreciated by both the audience and singers. An appreciative audience was invited to sing on four of the selections.
The music that was performed will be utilized at future diocesan liturgies. Although this was an NPM event, cooperative efforts from the diocese, Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, local parishes, Knights of Columbus, and music ministers throughout the diocese combined to make the evening concert a night to remember. Some of the comments by the participants follow: “This was such a great experience. I never get to sing in a choir this size.” “It brought tears to my eyes. Wonderful!” “”Let's do this again.” “What an opportunity to be under great direction and to be able to sing with such talented musicians. What an honor.” When asked to evaluate the festival, those participants that responded voted unanimously to do it again if given the opportunity.
A picture of the choir festival was even published in the national NPM magazine, “Pastoral Music”. “Practice for the Rapid City Choir Festival” appears on page 49.