Madison Diocesan Choir 

In the summer of 2007, the Diocesan Choir took a two-week tour of Germany, Switzerland and Austria and sang for Concerts and Masses in some of Europe's most beautiful and historic churches, including the Cologne Cathedral, the Freiburg Muenster and the Vienna's Karlskirche. In 2001, the Diocesan Choir toured Italy and sang for the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. The Choir also has toured Italy, Spain, France, Ireland, the British Isles, Scandinavia, Iceland, Germany, and the western United States.

On December 22, 2002, Bishop William H. Bullock presented the Bishop’s Distinguished Service Award, the highest diocesan honor in Madison, to the Diocesan Choir for the members’ service and ministry to the diocese over the past four decades.

John Sittard is a devoted husband and father; as well as, a highly skilled Catholic organist, choral conductor, composer and
administrator, with over 25 years experience at the parish, diocesan and national
levels.  

Tentative Repertoire (posted July 29, 2019)
All My Hope On God is Founded (Howells)
All Things Bright and Beautiful (Rutter)
And the Glory of the Lord (Handel)
At the River (Copland)
Ave Maria (Caccini)
Blessing of Aaron
Cantique de Jean Racine (Fauré)
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind (Parry)
If Ye Love Me (Tallis)
King Jesus hath a garden (Rutter)
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need (Wilberg)
There Shall a Star from Jacob (Mendelssohn)
This Christmastide (Frasier)
Witness (Halloran) 

Click for our past repertoire:

• 2018-2019
• 2017-2018
• 2011-2012
• 2010-2011
• 2009-2010
• 2008-2009
• 2007-2008
• 2006-2007
• 2005-2006

The Madison Diocesan Choir Patrick Gorman Youth Pastoral Musician Scholarship Award is designed to support youth participation in music ministries within the Madison Diocese and its parishes. These scholarships encourage continued participation in music ministries by supporting summer music education by the youth attending a summer music clinic. Open to high school students. Contact Us for more information. 


 

Schmelzer Organ Stop List

The Schmelzer Organ was commissioned to be built by the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company in 1949 (Opus 1204). Following a delay due to the lack of materials and workers during the Korean War, the organ was installed at First Congregational Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin in 1953.

From 1905 to 1965 the E. M. Skinner Company and its successor firm, the Aeolian Skinner Organ Company were considered the “gold standard” in church organs. They were generally commissioned by larger city churches because of the cost. They were designed to accompany a congregation as they sing praise to God.

 When Holy Name was originally built, accommodations were made for a pipe organ. Two large chambers on either side of the choir loft and a conduit in the cement allowed for the wiring of an organ console. When the building opened in 1964,   an electronic organ (built by the Rodgers Company) existed in the chapel. That organ remained here for 54 years, long past the life expectancy of an electronic organ. It was time for a replacement. (The current orga in our chapel should be around for centuries!)

 After prayer, study and discussion, Bishop Robert Morlino expressed his desire for a pipe organ, as called for in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, promulgated during the Second Vatican Council (see no. 120). It was determined that we would first seek to recycle an organ being removed from another church.

Bruce Case of Case Organ Builders (Madison, Wisconsin) assisted in identifying possible organs available throughout the Midwest. The Diocese finally settled on the organ from Kenosha’s First Congregational Church.

In January of 2017, a team of workers under the supervision of Mr. Case carefully removed the organ and packed the 1,173 pipes and countless other parts into large wooden crates. Mr. Case oversaw the complicated task of restoring and refinishing every individual piece of the organ, finding original Aeolian Skinner parts to replace broken or worn pieces, and enhancing the sound of the organ for our chapel.

 Each pipe had to be stripped, cleaned, repaired and replaced. The original console   had to be stripped, rebuilt and stained. While the working parts of the organ are   mostly original, Mr. Case was able to incorporate modern technology into the  console, allowing for more flexibility. After 5,427  hours of work, the organ was completely installed. 

The restored organ bears the name of Msgr. Delbert Schmelzer. Thanks to a generous gift from his estate, the Diocese has been able to restore and install this organ in the Holy Name Chapel. We hope that it will allow us to promote sacred organ music through celebrations of the Sacred Liturgy, concerts and recitals, and education–particularly organ lessons.