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. Please see Choir Flyer. We also welcome those who can only participate during Christmas and Easter. Please see Seasonal Choir Flyer.

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

Repertoire of the choir spans a variety of styles but tends to focus on sacred music.​

The choir supports the congregation and augments its singing with harmony and descant. Additionally, the choir sings 500 years of choral literature most often as prelude, offertory, or both.

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.​

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

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

Members have a professional background, or 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), Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music (CUNY), and other prominent centers of higher learning in music nationally. Several members currently occupy positions in our Archdiocesan Cathedral Choir  *or are current SJB music ministry members.

Core members for the 2024-25 season are   

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

Recordings

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

• G.P. da Palestrina, Alma Redemptoris Mater (Advent Marian Antiphon)

• Anton Bruckner, Locus Iste (Dedication of a Church)

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.

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 every Tuesday afternoon; 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 Ministry.

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

SJB enjoys instrumental ensembles such as brass quintet and timpani at Christmas and Easter, but also on other important occasions such as Confirmation. Area musicians, both professional and volunteer, regularly enjoy our beautiful acoustic.

• Ensembles for the 2024-25 season include the Gregory Holdiness Ensemble and Freeway Brass (CCM). 

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

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 & subtle to the aesthetic of 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 pipe organ such as creative hymn introductions, harmonizations, registrations, and improvisations. 

More information and weekly prelude & postlude, updated Thursday evenings, are available at our Organ Corner.