The music ministry here at St. Bridget is comprised of Traditional and Contemporary Choirs, accompanists, cantors, and various other talented musicians whose aim is lead the assembly in sung worship in order to enable them to fully participate in the Eucharist and other parish liturgical services.

CJ Fesalbon has recently become our overall Music Director in January of 2005 assuming the leadership both of the Traditional Choir and Contemporary Choirs. Mrs. Fesalbon had previously been directing the Contemporary choir since 1993 and earned her Bachelors of Arts in Music from Seattle Pacific University.  Other parish work includes choir directorships at Blessed Sacrament, Christ the King, UW Newman Center, and Youth 2000 and as cantor and musician at various posts in the Seattle Archdiocese over the past 20 years.

The Traditional Choir sings at the 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass and has over 25 SATB members, cantors and a professional accompanist, Patricia Bendock (organ and piano).  The music presented is as diverse as its member's backgrounds.   Sample repertoire includes Taize, chant and classical music (selections from Handle's Messiah, Beethoven's Hallelujah from the Mount of Olives, Vivaldi's Gloria, Schubert's Mass in G, in addition to Ave Verum, Panis Angelicus, and other traditional major works, hymns and octavos).   Relevant and inspiring contemporary anthems make up a large part of the mix (music from Price/Besig, John Rutter, Patrick Liebergen, Jay Althouse, Gilbert Martin, etc). The Traditional Choir also uses spirituals as another avenue to praise God and enhance the liturgy.  The choir draws four-part hymn singing from Oregon Catholic Press' Music Issue / Today's Missal program and GIA's Worship III hymnal.  This choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings and prior to Mass on Sunday morning.  Frequently, members of the Northwest Chamber Orchestra, Seattle Baroque Orchestra, Bellevue Philharmonic and the Northwest Sinfonia join in playing with both the Traditional and Contemporary Choirs.   The Traditional Choir truly invests itself in this music ministry.  They are proud to offer beauty and support to the worship and liturgy, all the while being able to "pray twice", praise God, and love the church and each other.

The Contemporary Choir is involved at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass and has a membership of over 20 SATB members including: singers, instrumentalists, cantors and a professional accompanist, Rachelle Dolan.  The Contemporary Choir is has flute, piano, bass, mandolin and guitars compliment the group on a regular basis.  Seasonally, the choir has guest musicians joining them including African Percussion, Rock and Jazz drummers. They rehearse on Thursday evenings and prior to Mass on Sunday.  The mission of the Contemporary Choir is to have a “singing assembly” and to enhance worship at St. Bridget by singing the highest quality contemporary music sung in way that engages all ages.  Sample repertoire includes: Spirit  & Song, Taize and contemporary selections from OCP, GIA, WLP, and WORD Publications, utilizing the works of Ricky Manalo, Janet Sullivan-Whitaker, Jesse Manibussan, Tom Booth,  Bernadette Farrell, Marty Haugen, Bob Dufford SJ, Christopher Walker, David Haas, Bruce Greer, Dave Williamson and others.

Music at the Saturday 5:00 p.m. evening Mass consists of a Cantor, Renee Thorkelson and professional pianist, Patricia Bendock, in addition to occasional guest singers and instrumentalists.  Ms. Thorkelson also directs the Passion Choir. The Passion Choir leads the sung proclamation of the Passion according to St. John at the Good Friday Service.  Ms. Thorkelson has been involved in music and liturgy for over 15 years.  She has held Director of Music and Liturgy posts within the archdiocese.  She is a member of  the Music sub-committee of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission.  She lends vocal, cantor and guitar support at St. John Vianney in Kirkland.   She has also served as Liturgy Director for youth conventions and young adult conferences throughout the archdiocese and sung with the Pan African choir in Seattle.

For MP3 recordings of the Traditional and Contemporary Choirs please click on the following link: http://stb1030choir.neovellum.com

New music ministers are welcome.  There are no auditions required. 

Contact

CJ Fesalbon at (206) 420-8185

jfesalbon@aol.com