The choir serves the 11:15am mass September to Pentecost, adjourning during summer. The choir is open to a wide age range but tends toward high school and older. We seek to expand in every voice type. See Choir Flyer. We also welcome those who can only participate at Christmas, Confirmation, and Easter. See Seasonal Choir Flyer.

Rehearsals are second and fourth Thursday 7-8:30pm, and closer to Christmas and Easter, 7-9pm.

Repertoire spans a variety of styles but tends to focus on sacred music, most often as prelude, offertory, or both. 

The choir supports the congregation and augments its singing with harmony and descant. 

At special times of the year, the choir is augmented with guest section leaders.

Previous choral experience and ability to read music are helpful. The choir moves quickly, and it will be necessary to respect the process of preparation through consistent attendence and attention to time.​ This is a volunteer ensemble.

For more information, please contact our Director of Music, Patrick Wickliffe, at 513-367-9086, ext. 223 or pwickliffe@stjb.net. See Sunday Liturgy for current Schedules and Service Music.

A schola cantorum, originally part of early liturgical tradition, is a specialized ensemble exploring a breadth of repertoire from polyphony to the contemporary, offering informed historical perspective. We are happy to welcome our newest mixed ensemble for the Saturday 4pm vigil once a month, September to May.

Members are auditioned, have professional background, are pursuing degrees in music or a related field, have significant leadership experience and ensemble skill, have excellent sight-reading ability, and inspire with excellent vocal technique and musicianship. They hail from Xavier University, St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel, Christ Church UCC (Fort Thomas), the May Festival Chorus, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), Oberlin Conservatory, University of Kentucky, Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music (CUNY), and other prominent centers of higher music learning nationally. Several members currently occupy positions in Cathedral Choir  *or are SJB auxiliary members or substitutes.

Core members for the 2024-25 season are   

• ​Soprano: Regina Rancourt, Kristen Whalen, *Debbie Keller; Mezzo/Alto: Natalie Corrigan, Lindsey Fitch, Talia Zoll; Tenor: Eric Riedel, Levi Capesius, *Chris Rolfes; Bass-Baritone: Harrison Hancock, Kade Bennet   

• Substitutes: Sydney Sorbet, Rachel Kobernick, Diamond Sparks, Molly Chun, Maddie Carbary Anderson, Michael Temesi, Sergio Enciso, Alan Rendzak, Jack Bunch, Michael Young

Recordings

• ​Rheinberger, Missa Brevis in D Minor, Op. 83: 1. Kyrie

• Manz, E'en So, Lord, Jesus, Quickly Come

SJB is blessed with many gifted cantors who lead the assembly in worship. A pleasant voice, welcoming demeanor, and leadership are essential. This ministry is open to Junior High and older. Training and weekly rehearsal provided. See Cantor Flyer.

Cantors typically serve weekend masses and often also occupy other roles in the ministry of the church such as Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion or choir member. Other liturgies often featuring cantors include funerals and weddings, school mass, penance services, Stations of the Cross, and other special liturgies. 

Contracted opportunities are available for those who wish to offer their service professionally. However, most SJB cantors are volunteers.

Required materials may be acquired at Sunday Liturgy under Worship Aid (Current Week & Supporting Materials, updated regularly, and by no later than Thursday afternoons; also available via email upon request) and Musician Schedules. 

Scheduling is coordinated both within our scheduling system, Ministry Scheduler Pro, and through manual entry by our Director of Music.

SJB welcomes instrumentalists who provide support and ornament congregational singing. See Instrumentalist Flyer.​

Scheduling is flexible and allows instrumentalists to choose level of involvement and mass preference.

SJB enjoys instrumental ensembles such as brass quintet and timpani on important occasions. Area musicians, both professional and volunteer, regularly enjoy our acoustic.

• Ensembles for the 2024-25 season include the Gregory Holdiness Ensemble (Christmas) and Freeway Brass (CCM) (Confirmation & Easter). Our Director of Music often provides expert arrangements for these ensembles.

SJB houses a 32-rank Schantz (Op. 1834, 1978) with four physical divisions, originally designed for University of Cincinnati's Probasco Auditorium. 

In 2019, the organ was acquired by SJB and reconfigured for the new church. The organ and its current specifications are included in the Pipe Organ Database of the Organ Historical Society.

There is the possibility of a console upgrade and slight tonal expansion. The organ may be heard every week and serves a vast and fine repertoire, adding luster bold and subtle to our celebration. Our Director of Music is a member of the Cincinnati Chapter American Guild of Organists and shares an enthusiasm for the many compelling educational and enrichment possibilities of the organ such as creative hymn introductions, harmonizations, and improvisations. 

More information and weekly selections, periodically updated, are available at our Organ Corner.