Music at Saint Ignatius

Music is a very important part of the life of the parish. Beautiful music is indicative of God’s very nature and has been an integral element of Christian worship from earliest times.

The Choir of Saint Ignatius of Antioch

We are blessed with a small, professional choir of eight voices who sing at the 11 o’clock Solemn High Mass from October to June and at special services throughout the year, such as the great liturgies of Holy Week and Easter, All Souls Day, and the festival of Corpus Christi. The repertoire is mainly drawn from the glories of Medieval and Renaissance music and from the Anglican Choral tradition. The choir usually sing a composed setting of the Ordinary of the Mass (Kyrie, Gloria in excelsis, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei) and a motet or anthem. They also sing the traditional Gregorian chant minor propers, brief passages from scripture set to music that are appropriate to the particular day and season.

The Choir and Orchestra of Saint Ignatius of Antioch perform occasional concerts, and the parish is also home to three musical groups: Polyhymnia, Lionheart, and Amuse.

Right: St Cecilia window in the former choir loft, now the Rector's office.

Evensong Choir

The Evensong Choir is the newest parish musical ensemble and, as you might guess from its name, leads the music at our monthly Solemn Evensong service. The group consists of volunteers from the parish.

Currently, the Evensong Choir’s repertoire is drawn from the traditional plainsong elements of the Prayer Book Evensong liturgy, which includes the psalms and the evening canticles (the Magnificat, with its proper antiphon, and the Nunc dimittis). We hope that, as the choir grows, this repertoire will expand to include anthems and motets and perhaps choral settings of the canticles and responses.

This choir will also lead the music at the Sunday 10 a.m. Sung Mass during the summer while the professional choir is on hiatus.

This is a wonderful oportunity for members of the parish to offer their musical talents and join in our expanding music ministry here at Saint Ignatius of Antioch. If you are interested in participating, please contact , our organist-choirmaster, for more details.

Organ

The organ, built in 1966 by Casavant Frères and renovated in 1981, is a fine and highly successful three manual instrument. Designed in the “American Classic” style with a strong French cast, it is versatile and is situated in a space with flattering acoustics.

Our Music Department

David Holkeboer, Associate Organist
David Holkeboer graduated from Calvin College in Michigan, where he studied with Ruth Rus. As a student of John Wustman, he received a Master of Music in Vocal Coaching and Accompanying from the University of Illinois.  In New York City he maintains a coaching studio and collaborates with singers in recitals.  Mr Holkeboer has worked with the Chamber Opera Theatre of New York, the First American Music Theatre Festival in Philadelphia, the O’Neill Theatre Center in Connecticut, the Israel Vocal Arts Institute, the Florentine Opera in Milwaukee, and Opera Lirica in Orvieto, Italy.  He has performed in over forty Community Concerts across the country with soprano Alba Quezada and has recorded a recital program with Mark S. Doss at the Sirius Satellite Radio studios for broadcast.  He has appeared as pianist in performance with Ariel Bybee, Phillip Cokorinos, Susan Dunn, Faith Esham, Scott Hendricks, Ruby Hinds, James McCracken, Erika Sunnegardh, and Sandra Warfield. Mr Holkeboer is a longtime member of the parish, currently serves as a Church Warden, and is very active in our Soup Kitchen program.

Tax-deductible contributions to the Saint Ignatius Music Fund, in any amount, are welcome and will be used for the music program if you make your check payable to “St. Ignatius’ Church” and indicate “Music Fund.” You may also underwrite the cost of the music on any Sunday or at a major festival by becoming a mass sponsor. An $800 will cover the cost for the music on most Sundays or Holy Days, depending on the number of singers. Music sponsors may designate their gifts as memorials or in honor of some person or event. A notice of such designations will be printed in the service leaflet. To sponsor music, please email or call the Church office at (212) 580-3326.