The Schola Cantorum of St. Gregory the Great is Memphis' vocal ensemble for the Traditional Roman Mass.

Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings at 5:30 p.m. in Leppert Hall at Little Flower Church. In addition, rehearsals for special feast days during the week will take place 45 minutes before mass starts. 

Everyone from age 7 and up is welcome. No musical experience is required.

As members of the Schola, we will:
  • Explore vocal technique and music theory.
  • Refine our expressive singing of chant; and
  • Expand our repertoire and delve into multi-part motets.

To join, please contact Emma Nwobilor at emma.nwobilor@stlfchurch.cdom.org.

Note: In accordance with Bishop Talley's decree and scientific recommendations for choral singing, masks and social distancing are required in order to mitigate risk from COVID viral exposure. The loft at Little Flower features spaced-apart chairs, a UV Air purifier, and plenty of hand sanitizer. I am asking that everyone wear a facial covering at all times while participating in Masses or rehearsals.
What is a Schola Cantorum?
A Schola Cantorum literally is a place for the teaching and practice of ecclesiastical chant, or a body of singers banded together for the purpose of rendering the music in a church. Pope Hilary (d. 438) is often credited with having inaugurated the first schola cantorum, though St. Gregory the Great established the school on a firm basis and endowed it.
We are a choral ensemble dedicated to the performance of Gregorian plainchant and sacred polyphony in the sung traditional Roman Mass.  What does that mean?  Mainly, we sing:
  • Some of the "Propers" of the Mass (the prayers for that particular day) according to the liturgical season: Introit, Gradual, Alleluia, Offertory antiphon, and Communion antiphon 
  • The Kryiale (the chants for the "Ordinary,” what occurs at every Mass): Asperges/Vidi aquam, Kyrie, Gloria, Creed, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, and Deo gratias following the Ite, missa est 

Looking to learn? Come join us!  In the meantime, check out the Square Note app.  It has the chant notations for the Propers and the Kyriale.  It also allows you to hear the melodies of the chants and adjust your speed and pitch in order to learn how the chants are sung. You will be up in the choir loft with the Schola Cantorum in no time!

Mass of St. Gregory the Great