CMAA Colloquium 2025 - St. Paul Minnesota, St. Thomas University
Day 1 Monday
Aquinas Chapel
My colleague and I left South Bend at 6am. We had an 8 hour car ride - sounds long, but didn't feel long! We listened to the Beatles, some old time Glory and Praise, and some of the music we would be singing at our colloquium.
As soon as we arrived, I had to rush to a section leader rehearsal in Aquinas Chapel. The Section Leaders have extra singing responsibilities and also help in their polyphony choirs. We practiced Mozart's Inter natos mulierum and a polyphonic Magnificat by Cipriano de Rore (for Thursday vespers). A group of singers never having sung together before will offer the Mozart at Mass tomorrow Tuesday, for the glory of God.
Campus
Campus at St. Thomas University feels a little like Notre Dame. It's a lovely and sprawling campus.
. We have a few different buildings to walk to, as it is a walking campus, but they are very close - not more than a few minutes - which is welcome in this summer heat wave. The weather generally should be more mild than the record-breaking heat in South Bend.
Dinner & Opening Remarks
After rehearsal, we had a taco dinner, had opening remarks and introductions, and Compline (evening prayer). Everything we sing this week is out of one giant book. We start the week singing more in English, and gradually move to Latin through the week. The whole group sings on key - but even we professionals have some practice to do to become a cohesive unit that thinks, breathes, and sings together.
We commemorated those from the CMAA gone home to the Lord this past year, including the long time and very beloved president, Dr. William P. Mahrt (Bill Mahrt). A very humble and servile man despite his great intellect, he loved the Lord and the liturgy and worked tirelessly to help the CMAA accomplish its purpose. I was privileged to hear him speak the prior two years I have gone (in Champagne, IL and Detroit, MI). He will be missed. I have his book - The Musical Shape of the Liturgy. Great musicians and intellectuals like Bill Mahrt, who have spent so much time becoming experts on what the Church teaches and practices, shape the way I view the Catholic liturgy and the way I strive to do my job - ever for the glory of God and sanctification of all who come to a Mass at which I serve.
Accommodations & Friends
We are staying in apartment-style dorms. I am in a suite with a friend from colloquia past. If we were students in the fall, we would have the best view in the whole campus!
One big reason to come to the Colloquium (of many) is getting to see friends I've made across the country. We are all busy, and can't keep up much, but the joy in seeing each other, catching up, praying and worshiping together is very real. God who is Trinity made us to be a community.
It is good to be here.
CMAA Colloquium 2025 - St. Paul Minnesota, St. Thomas University
Day 2 Tuesday
Watch today's Introit at Mass!
Watch today's Introit at Mass!
Rehearsals, more rehearsals,
and Mass!
The mattress was penitential, but nonetheless I slept well. Today began with breakfast in the university student center cafeteria (2 thumbs up). Then Morning Prayer, prayed in English from our Colloquium books.
Next, we had some brief warmups led by Horst Buchholz, and then off to chant schola. We all choose a different Chant Schola to sing in depending on our level, interests, and intent. This year I chose to attend the Chant Conducting workshop led by the outrageously talented David Hughes. It was wonderful and has rekindled my love of chant and the beauty in its simplicities and intricacies. I'm not looking forward to MEMORIZING 3 Gregorian propers, but I am looking forward to learning a lot. I even got to conduct today!
Next, we had a music reading session together as a full group, where we preview music from varies sources and times. Then lunch! After lunch we had Breakouts, which we had very day. On this Tuesday I attended Dr. Christopher Berry's conducting polyphony breakout session, and I was able to conduct a few measures as part of the masterclass. After Breakouts was another rehearsal - we divide into three polyphony choirs and share the music at Mass during the week. I am a section leader this year in Chris Berry's choir. He is a humble and tremendous mentor and force, and I'm so pleased and honored to be invited to sing with him. And then right after rehearsal, we all celebrated Mass together in Aquinas Chapel, each sharing different parts of the Mass. The entire liturgy (even the readings, but except for the Homily) is SUNG. Guests are welcome to attend Mass and witness the amazing, full realization of the liturgy as the Church intended. And yet, there is room for new music - as will come tomorrow.
The Mass was wonderful - I sang in the Offertory motet and the Communion motet. But my favorite parts were the hymn at the end of Mass - one new to me:
"Let Thine Example, Holy John, Remind Us" (to the tune ISTE CONFESSOR). It is one of the most beautiful tunes and texts I'd never heard of. Following that was a roaring organ postlude by Sam Backman.
A relaxing evening and close of day - and many thanks to God for the gift of this week as it only begins.
CMAA Colloquium 2025 - St. Paul Minnesota, St. Thomas University
Day 3 Wednesday
Accommodations & Friends
Breakfast of champions..
bought a few books on Catholic liturgy and chant...
Conducting Chant class: everything I learned about chironomy at Notre Dame is finally clicking and I love it! It was a great class today.
Our first Plenary Speaker today was fantastic!!! It was so engaging, interesting, enlightening, and inspiring - truly, all of the above. Rev. Austin Litke, a professor at St. Thomas soon to reside in Rome, spoke about the Transcendentals (Truth, Beauty, and Goodness), from a patristic point of view. His main point was that Beauty is not a transcendental in itself, but is the perception of combines Truth and Goodness which then leads us to God. Sounds about right!
Next was lunch, Breakout session (Palestrina and the Council of Trent, by Susan Treacy), and Polyphony Choir rehearsals.
Then Holy Mass celebrated in Spanish, using Latin propers and polyphony and a beautiful, luscious Spanish Ordinary written in 2025.
After dinner,
...
*stands up*
THE ORGAN RECITAL WAS AMAZING.
*sits down*
The ineffable Jacob Benda played the zimbelstern out of the organ (literally - a little rotating star on the facade). I laughed and almost cried.
Wednesday: consummatum est.
