INCE 2006, Dr. Jennifer Pascual, Director of Music for Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, has been hosting the radio program “Sounds from the Spires.” It can be heard SIRIUSXM 129 Radio, The Catholic Channel.
It was in 2006 that the Archdiocese of New York began its venture into radio programming on Sirius Satellite Radio. Jennifer Pascual was asked to host a show on sacred music. Reticent, as she had no prior radio experience, she is now a veteran in the field, and quite a natural. Anyone listening to the program can hear her easygoing voice and demeanor, putting guests at ease as they talk about sacred music.
AVING BEEN ON THE SHOW a few times, I recently joined Jennifer at the SiriusXM Studio in Midtown Manhattan. (Co-blogger Chris Mueller and his amazing compositions have also been featured on this program.) The studio is a couple of blocks from Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and across the street from Radio City Music Hall and NBC’s “Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.” Making the environment even more interesting, Howard Stern, who fuels most of SiriusXM Radio’s subscriptions, broadcasts down the hall from The Catholic Channel along with several other shows.
Needless to say, Jennifer Pascual and I stuck out like a sore thumb in the lobby among the others in the entertainment industry who were there that day. Jennifer doesn’t care. Her down-to-earth demeanor on the air is exactly who she is off. For someone who has played for popes and presidents, she is as unpretentious a musician as you will ever meet.
“Sounds from the Spires” can be heard at the following times:
Saturday: 1am–2am & 11:00pm-12:00am
Sunday: 6:am-7am & 8pm-9pm
(All Eastern times)
The Catholic Channel • SIRIUS XM 129
MY SIX-YEAR-OLD SON PUT ME IN MY PLACE before our interview. My daughter, who is eight, said, “Daddy is lucky because he is famous because he is being interviewed.” My son responded: “No, he’s not famous. Never, ever! Only God is famous.” This, coming from a boy who loves getting into mischief, especially if it gets a laugh from his siblings and disapproval from his parents. But here he was dead serious and spot on!
OUR RECENT INTERVIEW WILL AIR THIS WEEKEND. (2/27, 2/28) Featured on the program are the following:
• Communion Antiphons for Lent | SATB, Organ, Assembly • World Library Publications
• Variations on Misereris Omnium | Introit for Ash Wednesday • RJC Cecilia Music
• By the Rivers of Babylon | Soprano, piano, cello • RJC Cecilia Music
• Magna Opera Domini | Commissioned for the ordination of Bishop Steven Lopes. • RJC Cecilia Music
