Program Goals
- Demonstrate the capacity to foster the Church’s treasury of sacred music in a Catholic parish or school with pastoral care, prudently applying the Church’s principles through servant leadership.
- Perform, rehearse, and conduct the Church’s treasury of sacred music with musical excellence.
Admission Requirements
Students wishing to apply to the Certificate in Sacred Choral Music program must submit the following to the Registrar before the mid-January deadline.
- Electronic application
- 2 letters of recommendation, including one from a current priest with whom the applicant works, preferably as a supervisor/superior
- Essay explaining desire and reasons for entering into this plan of study, including the desire to serve in a Catholic parish or school
- Acknowledgement of receipt of sample curriculum completion plans and statement of intention to complete the certificate program in 3–5 summers once admitted
- Acknowledgement of having read course rotation schedules and brochure outlining tuition, room, and board costs
- Statement of financial capability to fund the course of study
- Interview
- Live remote audition
◦ Preparation of 3 pieces in contrasting styles; can include the student’s line in a motet
◦ Sight-reading
- International students must take the TOEFL: minimum score of 550, paper-based exam; 215, computer-based exam; 80, internet-based.
Students are also expected to demonstrate initial competence in sight-reading, music theory, and Latin, and to continue their growth in these topics by independent learning throughout their course of study so that they can complete an exit exam. Resources for independent study to meet these requirements will be given to the students, and discussion of these requirements will be a frequent topic in the MSM Colloquium. Entrance exams are administered in-person on the Saturday before the student’s first class, and exit exams are administered in-person on the Saturday after a student’s final class. If students fail the music theory portion of the entrance exam, they will need to study for it on their own and retake it again before the next summer’s classes begin. Students must pass the music theory portion of the exam before their last summer of study.
Entrance Exams
Solfège
- Modal: sight singing several chants in different modes
- Tonal: sight singing several hymns and motets
Music Theory
- Roman numeral analysis of a Bach chorale
- Completion of a 1st- and 2nd-species counterpoint example with a given cantus firmus
Latin
- Translation of texts of the Ordinary of the Mass
Program Requirements
The following course of study is required for the completion of the certificate program:
Academic
- History and Principles of Sacred Music (2 credits)
- Liturgical Theology (2 credits)
- Vocal Pedagogy (2 credits)
Choral Praxis
- Choral Institute x 2 (1 credit each)
- Choral Preparation: Choral Conducting, Rehearsal Techniques, and Group Vocal Pedagogy (2 credits)
- Choral Literature Survey I and II (2 credits each)
- Choral Repertoire Conducting Practicum (co-requisite with Choral Literature Survey I and II)
Miscellaneous
- Applied Voice Lessons x 2 (1 credit each)
- MSM Colloquium x 4
Electives from among the following (4 credits total)
- History of the Roman Rite (1 credit each)
- Parish Sacred Music Program Management
- The Psalms
- Fundamental Philosophical Questions about Beauty
- Introduction to Gregorian Chant
- Advanced Chant Seminars
- Introduction to the Organ for Pianists
Total 20 Credits
Additional Requirements
Students must pass an exit exam with musical and language elements at the level of 80% or higher
Sight Reading
- One’s own voice part’s line from 4 Renaissance motets
- Open score of a 4-part homophonic motet at the organ or piano
Latin
- Translation of several texts from the Proper of the Mass (from the Book of Psalms), at sight
