The St Andrew Handbell choir is an enthusiastic group of musicians who rehearse in the church Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm (September-June.)   This small group of joyful  musicians blesses our church with glorious, ringing music!

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The group uses a a 2 octave set of English handbells, to achieve many different beautiful musical effects.  The coordination of the bell ringers requires a different approach than other ensembles. All the ringers read from a complete score.  

 

Although we have been fortunate to have members of the bell choir who have had experience, the director has also taught willing musicians to use the handbells.  Anyone interested in becoming a member of the bell choir should have the ability to read music and rhythms.  One need not be Catholic to be a member of the bell choir. 

 

If you are interested in the possibility of becoming a member of the St Andrew Bell Choir, please contact Carlisle Wildeman 860 537 7714

The St Andrew Principal choir is a group of 60-80 joyful people, ages 12- 92 who love singing God's praises.  The choir is a community of people of prayer, compassion, laughter, and song.  Rehearsals are held September- June Monday evenings 7:00-9:15 pm in the church choir loft.  The choir typically sings for the 9:30 A.M. Sunday Mass.  One need not be Pavarotti to join!  New members are always welcome! Additionally, one need not even be Catholic to be a part of the choir. 

 

The choir is an unusually active group, having had the opportunity to perform eight international choir tours: Italy, France, Ireland, Greece, Austria/Germany, Spain/Portugal, Canada, and Washington DC. The choir was even invited to sing for the 20th Anniversary of Pope John Paul II in Rome!  The choir typically tours every 2-3 years.  New members are welcome throughout the year. (I know I said that already, but it bears repeating!) 

 

In addition, the choir presents an annual "Passion Play Musical" each year on Palm Sunday weekend.  Thousands of people in past years of the production have witnessed this full stage presentation of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The cast/crew numbers around 130, with nearly all participants coming from our own church.  People from surrounding states make annual pilgrimages to Colchester to see the performance, as part of their Lenten preparation. 

 

Finally, the choir has a heart for those in need.  They sponsor a family in Haiti and make donations from the choir fund to people with special needs. Each year, the choir sponsors a 5K "Rhythm Run" to feed the hungry in their own community.  

 

Once a year, the choir typically presents a dinner concert, which is a combination of secular and sacred music.  The choir has also performed at the Newport Mansions, on local Television programs, and has sung the National Anthem at baseball games, basketball games, and most recently sang at Mohegan Sun Arena for the inaugural season of the Connecticut Black Wolves professional lacrosse team.

 

Members can be as involved as they wish. Some people simply enjoy the simple pleasure/honor of singing for Mass.  'Tis a blessing!

 

We would love to have YOU as part of our choir. 

 

Contact Parish:  (860) 537-2355

The St Andrew Young People's Choir is a vibrant, energetic group of young people ages Kindergarten through High School, who love singing God's praises!  

 

Then choir meets Wednesdays 5:45 -6:45 PM in the parish hall September through May.  New members are welcome to join at any point in the year.  New music is introduced every month!  We have lots of fun.  Often, we do hand motions with the songs, which is a big hit with our choir members. Parents are welcome to stay for the rehearsals, or to give themselves an hour of leisure! 

 

The choir typically sings once a month at the 11:00 AM mass. Additionally, the choir sings for the 4:00 pm Mass Christmas eve, and the 11:00 AM Mass Easter morning.  Children learn the basics of singing: posture, breathing, mouth position, following a director, performance behavior, and general group courtesy.  

 

The Young People's Orchestra and guitar group meet at the same time: 5:45-6:45 Wednesdays in the parish hall.  Musicians grades 4 through High School are welcome to join us.  We would love to have you!

 

Anyone wishing to be a part of this music ministry should contact 

the parish office:  (860) 537-2355   <or>

Kerry Filloramo-Hochdorfer jkfilloramo@sbcglobal.net 860-729-7723

St Andrew Church is blessed to have many talented and committed singers who serve as cantors! Cantors at St Andrew are encouraged to see themselves as true ministers of service to the community gathered at prayer. 

 

Our cantors are the link between the inspired texts of music and our congregation's response.  Cantors seek in every way to engage the community.  The way they approach the place from which they minister, the way they gesture to invite people to participate, and the way they authentically pray the music-- all of these actions make our community feel comfortable, welcome, and ready to be a part of the "full, conscious, active participation" of the faithful at mass.

 

St Andrew cantors are given the song titles and psalm selections, in advance of each weekend's liturgies, so that they can fully prepare the texts and accurately sing the musical lines.  Cantors are also sent a link to the weekend readings so that they can immerse themselves in the Sunday scriptures, thereby understanding the wisdom of the psalm and song selections. The goal is to have a thorough knowledge of the music, so that the cantor is not glued to the music, but is rather, communicating with the people.  Cantors are leaders of prayer, not readers of prayer. 

 

In a deep sense, cantors are feeding people, and-- as one would want with any meal that is a nourishing experience-- their cheerfulness, their comfort with the music, their ease with leadership, their welcome to the assembly, their vulnerability, and their strength-- in short, their full humanity, must be a part of what they offer the people who come to be fed.  

 

Theirs is a task of great responsibility, not to be taken lightly.  The best food in the world can be unpalatable if presented nervously, arrogantly, inauthentically, with uncertainty, impersonally, or without genuine love.  The challenge of a cantor is to make sure that the nourishment of music and scripture are so powerfully available in Liturgy that they truly reach the hearts and souls that come to be fed each Sunday.

 

St Andrew cantors typically serve 1-2 times per month at various masses.  The Diocese of Norwich offers cantor enrichment sessions every year or two.

 

Anyone who has a love of the liturgy, and has had some training in singing, who would be interested in being a part of this ministry should contact the Parish office: (860) 537-2355