The 12-member St. Cecilia Schola Cantorum was founded in 2001 as a parish choir attached to St. Michael’s the Archangel Catholic Church in Auburn, Alabama, with a particular emphasis on using chant and polyphony as an integral part of modern liturgy.

The singers, directors, and organizers serve as volunteers (that is to say, we are not paid professionals).The first mission of the schola is to serve the parish community in the process of rediscovering the music that is integral to the development and full experience of the Roman Rite.

It does through through carefully preparing and singing the music that the Church recognizes as holding pride of place in the liturgy: Gregorian chant and its stylistic descendants in the polyphonic tradition. Schola-assisted liturgies are unaccompanied.

The broader mission of the St. Cecilia Schola is to assist other parish choirs in participating in the revival of this tradition. The schola does through through workshops, articles in the popular and scholarly press, and making materials available online that can be used by parish choirs in the implementation of truly sacred music. The schola has made available the Jubilate Deo, issued by Paul VI in 1974 in the hope that it would serve as the music foundation of all parishes liturgies. Other writings are linked from the homepage.

It was our highest privilege to sing at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, July 11, 2004, and receive the blessing of Archbishop Oscar Hugh Lipscomb (a note about the event).The schola is available to assist at weddings, funerals, and other special events.For funerals, in particular, we sing the Introit (Requiem aeternam), Sequence (Dies Irae) Communion (Lux Aeterna), antiphons (In paradisum; Chorus angelorum), and other polyphonic pieces appropriate for the occasion. It is possible to pre-arrange for the schola to sing at a funeral Mass by noting this in a Spiritual Will. The schola rehearses weekly, and sings at liturgy twice monthly at the 8am Mass during the entire liturgical year. See our schedule . Members of the schola are available for workshops or other liturgical events. The schola is entirely financed through member contributions. If you would like to support our work and mission–and we do need and appreciate the support–contact us.