STEUBENVILLE, OHIO—Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Schola Cantorum Franciscana will perform a sacred music concert dedicated to St. Joseph on Friday, April 25, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in downtown Steubenville. A second performance will be given on Saturday, May 3, at 1:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity Church in Robinson Township, Pennsylvania.

The concert is titled “The Guardian.” It will feature works by Arvo Pärt, Eric Whitacre, and Charles Villiers Stanford, as well as Franciscan’s own French professor Dr. Timothy Williams and Schola Cantorum director Dr. Vincent E. Rone. Each piece reflects one of four perspectives traditionally associated with St. Joseph: the spouse, the saint, the servant, and the righteous. 

Both performances are free of charge and open to the public.

In addition to the two sacred music concerts, members of the Franciscan University Women’s Choir will join with members of the Archangel Gabriel Parish Choir to provide the liturgical music for a special evening Mass in observance of St. Joseph the Worker on Thursday, May 1, at 6:30 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Church in Robinson Township.  

Originally formed as a liturgical choir, the Schola Cantorum Franciscana has since expanded its mission to showcase the beauty of the Catholic Church’s religious and liturgical music for new generations of audiences. 

The chorus is an outgrowth of Franciscan University’s unique and robust Sacred Music Program, which is one of only a few programs offered at this level in the nation. Students who major in the program focus intensively on the Catholic Church’s rich musical tradition, including Gregorian chant, sacred polyphony, and the great works of all ages. Students receive a thorough understanding of the history and tradition of sacred music as well as contemporary and secular music. With concentrations in voice or organ, the major is designed for students who want to pursue graduate studies in music or pursue music jobs, such as Catholic church musicians, performers, or music ministers.

A promotional flyer for the concerts can be found here.