About our Schola
Building on the strong choral tradition of St Joseph's Secondary School in Navan, the Schola was established in 2009 to teach our students skills in liturgical music. Membership of Schola is by informal audition and interview; to maximise individual attention, numbers are capped at 25 students. Those who are accepted onto the programme are given tuition in organ, cantoring, Gregorian chant, choral singing and choral direction. The Schola is under the patronage of the Bishop of Meath and the parish of St Mary's, Navan.
Students commit to weekly choral and liturgical repertoire rehearsals, and individual 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, as well as performing at conferences and liturgies outside their parish. 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 contemporary liturgical composers.
Students commit to weekly choral and liturgical repertoire rehearsals, and individual 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, as well as performing at conferences and liturgies outside their parish. 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 contemporary liturgical composers.