THE NEXT GENERATION OF church musicians will be showcasing their faith, talent and enthusiasm for sacred music later this month.
Christ Cathedral’s Organ and Choral Scholars — who are some of the region’s finest organists and singers — will be presenting a free concert at 7:30 p.m. on May 21 at Christ Cathedral. Their performances will serve as the conclusion of their busy year in the Cathedral Music Program.
“It’s very exciting to finally have something to present,” said Eduardo Iñiguez, 23, who is studying both the organ and singing. “From week to week, we all had our moments to shine at Mass and that’s always really nice, but to have a moment where we can all get together and share in what we’ve learned over the year, that’s really a beautiful thing.”
The seven scholars studying the pipe organ and singing sacred music have spent the last school year rehearsing, perfecting their craft at voice lessons, performing at Masses and other holy days of obligation. They have also been mentored in what it takes to be a liturgical musician.
“I wasn’t really sure what I was going into at first, but the second I started rehearsing, taking my voice lessons and singing at Mass, I realized this program is really big, wonderful and amazing,” said Clare Donaldson, 18, a Choral Scholar. “I was just really grateful for all of it.”
Although Donaldson won’t be performing in the concert (she will be graduating from high school), the end of the program comes with emotion.
“It’s definitely sad for me,” she added. “This year helped shape me so much and I’m definitely going to be sad to see all that come to an end. But also it’s very cool to see my growth over the process. Looking at where I started in the beginning to where I am now, it’s just a world’s difference.”
Personal growth is one aspect Iñiguez said he is excited to show. He hopes the people who have supported him, both with their time and financially, can see what can be achieved with such support. He remembers his first time playing the Hazel Wright Organ, the cathedral’s behemoth 17,000-pipe instrument.
“It is so hard to explain, it really is,” Iñiguez said. “I’ve never been so mesmerized by pushing a button.”
He added: “The first time I performed on the Hazel Wright Organ, I was so confused, because I would press the buttons and all these sounds would come out. It did not sound like that at the little chapel I practice in.”
Choral Scholar Theresa Sacher, 17, said she is surprised by how at ease she feels performing at Christ Cathedral.
“It’s just a very comfortable place for me to be in,” Sacher said. “It just feels like home.”
To be performing in such a prestigious, holy venue is a privilege, Iñiguez said. And although he did not think he was qualified to be in the program at first, he said everyone was immediately welcoming.
“I’m just super grateful for this opportunity,” Iñiguez added. “This place is such a privilege; I just feel like we’re super blessed.”
Several of the scholars commented how Christ Cathedral’s program differs from the average parish offerings. Intentional is the word, said Donaldson, who drives from Rancho Cucamonga to be a Cathedral Scholar. Very few churches offer such a high-tier program, she noted.
“I feel like they are very much focusing on helping us become better musicians and mentoring us,” Donaldson said. “I feel like here I’m truly being trained to become a church musician.”
The experience has more than lived up to the expectations of Sacher. Normally a soloist, Sacher said her biggest takeaway from her time has been learning to sing in a choir.
“One of the things I really want to do in life,” Sacher said, “is be a cantor, so just being able to have that experience and being able to meet all these new people that you’re singing with and building connections with is my favorite part of this program.”
There are seven students currently in the program. Sacher and Dayris Lira sing soprano; Donaldson sings alto; Iñiguez
sings tenor. In addition to Iñiguez, the Organ scholars are Phillip Dinh Hoang, Serra Kim and Agatha Teague. Iñiguez and Teague also serve as interns for the cathedral parish music ministry.
Previous Organ and Choral Scholars have gone on to Juilliard, McGill University and Yale University, among other prestigious schools. Some are expected to return for the concert as alumni visitors.
To Learn more about Christ Cathedral Music, visit https://www.christcathedralmusic.org/