Visiting Musicians

Guidelines for Visiting Artists

The newly-restored Cathedral of St. Joseph is widely known for its beautiful art and reverberant acoustics. This combination makes the Cathedral one of the most widely sought-after spaces for choral performances in the region. In addition, the 62-rank Hendrickson organ attracts performers from near and far. The Cathedral music ministry seeks to build ties with this larger musical community, through welcoming as many guest artists and ensembles as possible. At the same time, guest performances are limited by two primary factors: the sacred nature of the Cathedral space, which must be carefully maintained; and the practicality of scheduling. The Cathedral is the hub of Catholic activity for the diocese, as well as a parish community. In addition to the regular performances of the various Cathedral choirs throughout the year, the Cathedral maintains a funded concert series. Due to this active event schedule, the Cathedral unfortunately cannot accommodate every guest artist request.

If you are interested in performing at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, please take a moment to read through the guidelines below. They are intended to ensure the smooth integration of guest artists and ensembles into the mission and community life of the Cathedral.

Scheduling

The event schedule for each year (September-June) is completed by July. In order to avoid disruption to the parish and diocesan schedule, musical events are usually not added mid-year. So, for example, the September 2018 through June 2019 schedule will be completed by July 2018. If you propose an event in October of 2018, it will be considered by July 2019 for inclusion in the September 2019 – June 2020 season. Because of the busy Cathedral schedule, the earlier you can submit a proposal the better.

Event Proposals

• Please submit an event proposal via email to the Cathedral music director, in order to be considered for inclusion in the Cathedral events calendar.
• This proposal should include the ensemble or artist name, the nature and personnel of the ensemble, the proposed date/time, and at least a sketch of the proposed program. Final program details can be worked out much closer to the event itself.
• While not required, recent recordings are extremely helpful in our decision-making process. These may be mailed or emailed, or linked online.
• As a single specific date and time can be difficult to accommodate, the more flexible the proposal the better. Include as many dates as possible. For example, if you are considering options for a regional choir tour it would be best to include the entire date range of the tour in your proposal.

Liturgical Involvement

• Guest ensembles and artists are encouraged to participate in the liturgical life of the Cathedral when possible, in addition to presenting concerts. This is especially true during the Summer months, when the regular Cathedral choirs are not in session. Please indicate your willingness to sing during Mass or Vespers (in addition to presenting your concert), in your event proposal.

Maintaining a Sacred Space

• Although it is a wonderful place to perform and hear music, the Cathedral is not a concert hall. It is a space set apart for the worship of God. The space is always sacred – not merely during the liturgy or times of communal prayer. This permanent sacred character is exemplified by the constant presence of the Blessed Sacrament (the consecrated bread and wine that Catholics believe is transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ during the Mass) in the Cathedral tabernacle. The Catholic Cathedral is not merely a public meeting space, nor is it a place where God becomes present only when “two or three are gathered in His name.” The guidelines for music and demeanor in the Cathedral are not arbitrary; rather, they are generated from the church’s essential Catholic identity. We at the Cathedral ask guests, especially non-Catholics, to respect our faith tradition and concerns when visiting this sacred space.
• All music performed at the Cathedral must be sacred in nature. When in doubt, err on the side of music specifically composed for use in Christian worship – psalms, hymns, anthems, motets, Masses, major liturgical texts (Magnificat, Te Deum), and so forth. Sacred oratorios are another excellent genre.
• Music is not necessarily appropriate simply because it is composed for the organ. Organ transcriptions of theater pieces (whether opera overtures or ovie themes), for example, are not suitable for performance in the Cathedral. When in doubt, err on the side of abstract organ music (preludes, fugues, variations, passacaglias, toccatas, etc.) or music with a specific connection to Christian worship (chorale preludes, magnificat versets, elevation toccatas, Mass versets, etc.).
• Recorded music is not allowed in the Cathedral – for example, music for organ and electronic tape.
• To ensure that all of the above guidelines are respected, all programs must be approved in full by the Cathedral Music Director a minimum of one month before the performance date.

During rehearsals and the concert itself, visitors are expected to respect the sacred space of the Cathedral in their dress and demeanor.