Views from the Choir Loft

Julie Huebner • Article Archive

Julie Huebner earned musical degrees at Luther College (Bachelor) and Southern Illinois University (Masters). She currently serves as Director of Music and Liturgy at Saint Mary’s Visitation Parish in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. With her husband and three children, she resides in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.—Read full biography (with photographs).

Julie Huebner · June 9, 2025

PDF Download • “Text by Saint Francis of Assisi” (choral setting w/ organ: Soprano & Alto)

“I am near to end of my first year as a full-time choirmaster.” — Julie Huebner

Julie Huebner · January 19, 2025

PDF Download • “Small Choirs, Unite!” (2nd Part)

This is definitely a piece worth bringing out for choirs of all sizes!

Julie Huebner · January 13, 2025

PDF Download • “Small Choirs Unite!”

We have a wide range of expertise: from experienced choristers (some with music degrees) to a gentleman who’d never sung in a choir in his life before joining.

Julie Huebner · December 10, 2024

35 Children Chanting “Sálve Regína” From Memory

“This particular article talked about the Catholic Church in Milwaukee…” —Julie Huebner

Julie Huebner · January 10, 2013

Biography • Julie Huebner

Before her official work with the Church began, she pursued a career on the operatic and musical theater stage in Milwaukee and Chicago…

“Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music Director Job • $80,000 per year

Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Hybrid” Chant Notation?

Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).

—Corpus Christi Watershed