• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
    • Jeff’s Mom Joins Fundraiser
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Feasts Website
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

An Overview of the Music Program at Our Lady of the Atonement Church & Academy (Part 2)

Guest Author · May 26, 2014

450 Atonement San Antonio HE NUMBER OF SCHOOL CHOIRS has expanded from one in 2004 (which at the time included the entire Middle School enrollment) to ten at present. These choirs sing in rotation for the daily Mass, with each choir singing approximately two times per month. The choirs also perform two concerts per year. Additionally, a different school choir provides the music at the 9:00 am Mass one Sunday each month. This offers an opportunity for those families who are not members of the parish to experience the unique and beautiful Anglican Use liturgy and witness the musical training of the students.

The school choirs include:

1) Third grade boys and girls
2) Fourth and Fifth grade girls
3) Fourth and Fifth grade boys
4) Middle School girls
5) Middle School treble boys

6) Middle School changed voice boys
7) Upper School women
8) Upper School men
9) Upper School chorale (SATB)
10) Upper School honor’s choir (SATB)


448 Atonement Outside opportunities

Additional opportunities are provided for students to expand their training and experience by participating in various regional and state competitions and festivals. While these events are of enormous value to the students, they also bring recognition to The Atonement Academy. Sponsoring organizations include the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), the Texas Private Music Educators Association (TPSMEA), the Texas Choral Directors Association (TCDA), National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), and American Federation Pueri Cantores (AFPC). The choirs have consistently earned “Sweepstakes” at annual state concert and sight-reading contests. Over the past three years, a total of six high school students have been accepted into the Texas All-State choir following a highly competitive audition process. With an upper school enrollment of approximately 120 students, this statistic is particularly impressive given that it is equal to the number of All- State placements from area public schools with enrollments of several thousand students.

449 Atonement San Antonio


Choirs at Our Lady of the Atonement Church

The church choir program has experienced tremendous growth over the past ten years in both quality and quantity. In 2004 there were two parish choirs – a children’s choir comprised of choristers in grades 2-9, and a volunteer adult choir of approximately 15-20 members. Over the years the original children’s choir has been expanded to form three choirs. Others have been added bringing the total number of choirs to seven. These encompass the following:

447 Atonement San Antonio (1) St. Nicholas Children’s Choir (50)
Grade 3-5 girls; sings for the 9:00 AM Mass approximately one Sunday per month, special liturgies throughout the year; rehearses weekly

(2) St. Augustine Boychoir
Choristers (25) – boys in grades 4-7 (by audition)
Probationers (12) – boys in grades 3, less experienced boys in grade 4
Tenor/Bass – boys in grades 7-12 (coming fall 2014)
Sings for the 9:00 AM Mass one Sunday per month as well as special liturgies throughout the year; performs concerts on their own and with other community ensembles; rehearses weekly

(3) St. Cecilia Youth Choir (20)
Grade 6-12 girls; sings for the 9:00 AM Mass approximately one Sunday per month; sings for weddings and other special events both within and outside the parish; rehearses weekly

(4) St. Gregory Schola Cantorum (12)
An auditioned group of high school and college age men who sing the Gregorian Propers for the 6:00 PM Latin Mass (OF) each Sunday; rehearses weekly

446 Atonement (5) Our Lady of the Atonement Adult Choir (27)
Sings for the 11:00 AM Mass each Sunday as well as special liturgies throughout the year; rehearses weekly;
Comprised of volunteers, professional section leaders and choral scholars; the choral scholar program was instituted in the fall of 2012 and provides four exceptionally talented high school students with a modest stipend. This helps to improve the quality of the choir and assists the scholars in developing their musical talent as well as valuable leadership skills
At present, over one-third of the choir is under age 30

(6) Parish Festival Choir (30-40)
With the members of the Adult Choir as its core, the parish Festival Choir provides an opportunity for those who have a desire to sing but cannot commit to weekly rehearsals; the Festival Choir sings for the annual All Souls Evensong, Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, and the liturgies of Holy Week; rehearses seasonally

(7) Collegium Canticorum (20)
An auditioned ensemble of high school and college age students who specialize in Renaissance polyphony; sings for the Latin Mass (OF) one Sunday per month; rehearses as needed


451 Atonement Organs

When the Murrays arrived in San Antonio, the church housed a small but versatile pipe organ. The parish was about to embark on an expansion project, one which would double the size of the church and provide some much needed additional classroom space for the growing school enrollment.

One of the first tasks was to identify a suitable instrument for the soon-to-be enlarged church. The Murrays were aware of a number of churches in Boston which were being suppressed due to archdiocesan-wide reconfiguration. A perfect match was found in the Casavant organ (Op. 2016) housed in Blessed Sacrament Church in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. Comprised of three manuals and thirty-six ranks, the organ was purchased from the Archdiocese of Boston, moved to San Antonio and placed in storage. Upon completion of the church expansion in 2005, the organ was installed by the Ballard Organ Company of San Antonio, which made some minor tonal modifications and expanded the organ to fifty ranks across five divisions.

445 Atonement At the same time, Fr. Phillips learned of the availability of a one manual, seven rank Laukuff tracker organ in the Boston area that was being donated to a church with a vibrant music program. The Murrays inspected the organ and determined that it would make a suitable interim instrument to serve during the construction. Upon completion of the expanded church, the organ was moved to the Sacred Heart Chapel where it is used for special liturgies as well as a teaching instrument for aspiring young organists.


442 Atonement San Antonio Music Series

In anticipation of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the parish, a Music Series was founded in 2007. The series sponsors six musical events per year featuring artists of local, national and international acclaim. The Music Series is an important means of evangelization and outreach and assists the church in achieving one of its most ancient responsibilities of preserving and promoting the arts. The Music Series is largely self-sustaining and receives a minimal subsidy from the parish. Among those who have performed are world renowned organists Marie-Louise Langlais, James David Christie, Pierre Pincemaille, Clive Driskill- Smith, James O’Donnell, David Briggs, and Gerre and Judith Hancock.


Conclusion

444 Atonement San Antonio The sacred music program at Our Lady of the Atonement Church and The Atonement Academy serves as a model for other institutions seeking to train young people in singing the great music of the Church. It owes its success to a number of factors including the support of its pastor, Fr. Christopher Phillips, appropriation of financial resources, a dedicated music faculty and an unbreakable bond between church and school. Other elements include a dedicated rehearsal space, a fine pipe organ and a church with generous acoustics. What is not essential is a school filled with exceptionally talented students. Without question, there are many students who attend The Atonement Academy who possess considerable musical talent. However, most of the students are no different from children in any other school. With the right combination of elements in place, this amazing program can happen anywhere!


We hope you enjoyed this guest series by Mæstro Edmund Murray.


Atonement (Part 1)   •   Atonement (Part 2)

427 Atonement San Antonio 428 Atonement San Antonio 429 Atonement San Antonio 430 Atonement San Antonio 431 Atonement San Antonio 432 Atonement San Antonio 433 Atonement San Antonio 434 Atonement San Antonio 435 Atonement San Antonio

436 Atonement San Antonio 437 Atonement San Antonio 438 Atonement San Antonio 439 Atonement San Antonio 440 Atonement San Antonio 441 Atonement San Antonio
Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Our Lady Of The Atonement Academy Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    New Bulletin Article • “14 September 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 14 September 2025) discusses OFFERTORY ANTIPHONS and contains a wonderful quote by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Draft Copy (Pamphlet)
    A few days ago, I posted a draft copy of this 12-page pamphlet with citations about the laity’s “full, conscious, and active participation.” Its basic point or message is that choir directors should never feel embarrassed to teach real choral music because Vatican II explicitly ordered them to do that! We’ve received tons of mail regarding that pamphlet, with many excellent suggestions for improvement. Please feel free to chime in!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Entrance Chant” • 23rd (Ordinary Time)
    This coming Sunday, 7 September 2025, is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). You can download the “Entrance Chant,” conveniently located at the feasts website. I also recorded a rehearsal video for it (freely available at the same website). The Communion Chant includes gorgeous verses in FAUXBOURDON. I attempted to create a rehearsal video for it, and it’s been posted at the feasts website, called by some: “church music’s best kept secret.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“The authority of the Pope is not unlimited. It is at the service of Sacred Tradition. Still less is any kind of general ‘freedom’ of manufacture, degenerating into spontaneous improvisation, compatible with the essence of faith and liturgy. The greatness of the liturgy depends—we shall have to repeat this frequently—on its lack of spontaneity.”

— Josef Cardinal Ratzinger (2000)

Recent Posts

  • Charlie Kirk’s Fascination with Traditional Catholic Liturgy
  • “Novus Ordo Parish … With Polyphony?” • Is that possible? How specifically does that work?
  • “The Injustice of Traditionis Custodes” • (Private Meetings at the Vatican)
  • New Bulletin Article • “14 September 2025”
  • PDF Download • Croft’s “Canonic Kyrie” (SATB)

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.