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The Comtemporary Choir
The Contemporary Choir
consists of parishioners of all ages who come together to worship and
encourage the congregation to pray through music. Our extensive repertoire
consists of traditional to contemporary hymns accompanied by guitars, and flute. Our members dedicate themselves to enhancing the liturgy at
each Mass through songs and hymns, so that the congregation is enveloped
by the Word through the addition of our music. In addition to providing
music at the 10:00 AM Mass on the 3rd and 5th Sunday of the month and at
the 5:00 PM Saturday Mass (once a month). We also sing at special Masses during the year, weddings, funerals,
and our annual Christmas Concert.
Time Commitment:
Rehearsals every Thursday at 8:00 PM for 1-1/2 hours (once a month during the
summer).
Please contact:
Director: Valerie Asaro
(631) 757-0931
contemporarychoir@olqmparish.org
The Contemporary Choir at OLQM released our 2nd Christmas CD,
"Christmas Remembered", in December of 2008 to rave reviews! Thanks to the parishioners at OLQM, sales were great! We will be selling
"Christmas Remembered" again this year starting in December. If you would like copies beforetime, please contact Valerie Asaro, Director. Thank you for your support.
From the Fall 2008 Edition of Clippings Magazine
Parish Life: Promise of a Sweet Christmas
by Valerie Asaro, Director of Contemporary Choir
The Contemporary Choir has been hard at work
again recording our second Christmas CD,
"Christmas Remembered". We started in the winter of
2007 with the selection of twelve new songs. These
songs are a mixture of traditional and contemporary
music, such as: God Rest You Merry Gentlemen,
Little Drummer Boy, Song Of The Stable, Peace
Is Only A Starry Night, as well as eight others.
Joe Latini and I started last winter, recording the
instrument tracks first. These tracks include: guitars,
bass guitar, drums, and keyboards. Next, the members
of the Contemporary Choir recorded the vocal tracks
last summer in groups of three to four members. They all
gave so willingly of their talents on a very tight schedule
of two nights a week for each group. The soprano
groups recorded first, followed by the altos, and then
the male voices. Our flutist, Tara Kazak Tao, recorded
her instrument parts when the vocals were done. Joe
and I edited and mixed the vocals and instrument
tracks together to produce a wonderful Christmas
CD, making sure each song is unique unto itself.
Valerie Asaro
This is the
second
Christmas
CD that the
Contemporary
Choir
has recorded.
It has
been a major
undertaking,
but,
the members
have
all been
willing and
able participants.
Kerry Anastasi,
Holly
Brink, Barbara Butler, Barbara Cipullo, Nancy Engelhardt,
Trudi Gilligan, Paula Hoare, Ellen Kowalski,
Doris LeGodias, Joe Pancari, Donna Stein, Tara
Kazak Tao, and JoAnne Viccaro are to be congratulated
for their efforts and hard work. Aside from
rehearsing for months for this CD, they have also
kept our Sunday Mass music fresh and inspiring.
From left to right: Joe Pancari, Doris LeGodais,
JoAnne Viccaro
The Contemporary Choir sings at the Family Liturgy
masses on [the third and fifth] Sundays and also at the 5:00 PM Mass
on the first Saturday of each month (except for
July-September). Our extensive repertoire includes
traditional as well as contemporary church music.
Each season in the church calendar brings new and
exciting music to learn. The Contemporary Choir
is always enthusiastic and willing to meet these
challenges. Now that the Christmas CD is completed,
we can concentrate on learning new music and
perfecting existing music in our repertoire. It is such
a thrill for me to listen to this CD realizing all of the
hard work that has gone into the making of it. The
choir members devoted many months practicing
each song. They also adhered to the twice-a-week
recording schedule last summer with a smile and much
enthusiasm. Joe Latini has devoted the last 1½ years
to this project. His "Sweatshop Studio" in Halesite has
been the focus of our endeavor. His expertise, talents,
and patience in recording each group, the instrument
recordings, editing and mixing has been phenomenal.
I would not have attempted this project without him.
We hope everyone will enjoy our new Christmas CD,
"Christmas Remembered" coming out this December.
The cost of the CD is $15.00 - all proceeds to benefit
OLQM Parish
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