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The Music Ministry
at Our Lady of Victory Church
Our Lady of Victory
Church has a long history and recognition for its outstanding
contributions to liturgical music.
The Music Ministry has grown stronger and more diversified in an
unprecedented manner. With the vision of the Pastor, Father
Christopher Doering, and under the direction of Dr. Robert
DeChristopher, the quality of our Liturgical Music programming has
been further enhanced and expanded to serve as an offering of praise
and thanksgiving to God with a repertoire from Gregorian chant and
Renaissance motets to the most contemporary settings of music
literature.
Music leadership at all principal weekend and
holiday Masses is provided by the Choirs and/or Cantors - made up of
both trained musicians and amateur volunteers. The Music
Ministry of Our Lady of Victory is continually seeking new members.
If you have a pleasant singing voice or play an instrument, please
consider joining one of the many music opportunities we have
available.
Dr. Robert DeChristopher
OLV Director of Music & Liturgy
The Director of
Music & Liturgy is Dr.
Robert DeChristopher, a native Chicagoan, who, after having
graduated from DePaul University with honors, attended Northwestern
University, where he received his Masters of Music Degree. He
then studied at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France. Upon
returning to the United States, he entered his Doctoral program at
Columbia University in New York, with performance emphasis at the
prestigious Julliard School of Music. He received his Ph.D. in
Musicology and began a very notable professional music career which
has taken him throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and the
Orient, as a published composer, teacher, accomplished organist, and
highly sought after guest Choral and Orchestral Conductor, Music
Clinician, and Liturgical Music Consultant.
The following are the current categorized music
divisions at Our Lady of Victory Church:
The Chancel
Choir, made up of
professional singers and volunteers, is now regarded as one of the
finest Choirs in the Archdiocese of Chicago. As a traditional
40-voice choral ensemble, the Chancel Choir focuses on large-scale
choral works of the Great Masters, as well as music from the rich
heritage of the Catholic Church - from Gregorian Chant and
Polyphonic music to the music of composers from the 20th and 21st
Centuries. The Chancel Choir supplies the music for the weekly
Solemn Church Liturgy at the 11:15 a.m. Mass each Sunday from
October through June.
The Nu-Music
Ensemble is a mixed choir
accompanied by keyboards, guitars, and other instruments. The
music repertoire is focused on a contemporary popular style.
However, there is a broad range of music styles that are also
explored.
The Chamber
Singers is a select group
of highly trained professional singers specializing in the
a capella or unaccompanied master works of the
Renaissance to Modern Music. The group is a true masterful
blending of eight professional singers. Auditions with the
Director of Music for this ensemble are held periodically.
The Cantors
at OLV play a very important and integral part in our liturgy.
It is the Ministry of the Cantor that facilitates the active
participation of the assembly in the sung prayer at our parish
liturgies, by inviting the congregation to take part in the singing
of the hymns, psalms, Mass parts, and acclamations. Cantors
appear at all weekend Masses.
The OLV School
Children's Choir is an
inspiration to the entire student body as well as to the Parish when
they sing at a weekday All-School Mass or at a Sunday Liturgy.
The group is made up of boys and girls from the second through
eighth grades.
The Artist in
Residence Program
features the outstanding Chicago Boys Choir, and is funded through
the Chicago Arts Council, as well as by corporate and private
sponsorship. The Chicago Boy Choir has performed on tour in
Europe, and primarily appears in the Chicago metropolitan area at
both secular and Church events.
The Victory
Men's Choral still exists
and holds a prestigious place in OLV history, having been founded in
1931 as the OLV Men's Club Choir.
The Victory
Brass Ensemble can be
heard several times throughout the year, especially at major
Liturgical holidays. This ensemble is made up of professional
Brass musicians, who also are often heard performing throughout the
Chicago area with various Symphonic, Theatre, Opera, and Jazz
Ensembles.
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