The Schola is an innovative programme at St Joseph's Mercy Secondary School where students learn liturgical music skills. Girls who are accepted onto the programme are given tuition in organ, cantoring, Gregorian chant, choral singing and choral direction. The programme is supported by the Bishop of Meath, Dr Michael Smith and the parish of St Mary's, Navan. Students commit to weekly choral and li
turgical repertoire rehearsals and lessons in organ or voice. Central to the success of the programme is practical liturgy: students participate on a regular basis in school and parish liturgies. Many of our students are already involved in music ministry in their home parish, and the Schola is a stepping stone into professional music ministry after school. Repertoire is drawn from the wealth of liturgical music throughout the ages, from Gregorian chant to medieval pilgrim music, from motets and traditional hymnody to music by the best of living liturgical composers. Recently, we have commissioned a number of works from leading international composers.
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Schola members are encouraged to attend liturgical and musical training outside school, and have attended the ICMA Summer School on several occasions. The school has a fine Content Mondri digital organ, which is used for tuition and accompanying our choirs in sacred music. The organ is a 2-manual, 31-stop instrument manufactured in Holland. Admission to the Schola is by informal interview and audition.
