Dr. Kevin Vogt, Music Director
Jody K. Franklin, Assistant Music Director

“The mission of our parish music ministry is to cultivate through the musical arts
an ever-deepening participation by all members of our parish community
in the Church’s worship, discipleship and cultural outreach.”
—Statement of Values, Mission and Vision

VOLUNTEER               JOIN A CHOIR

VOLUNTEER TO HELP OUR MUSIC MINISTRY!

Music Ministry volunteer activities are open to all parishioners who are interested in supporting and strengthening the music ministry. The ministry needs both those with and without musical experience. There are also opportunities for trained instrumentalists.

For more information about volunteer opportunities please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

JOIN A CHOIR

Discover the beauty of creating and sustaining joy through service and membership in the following:

CANTOR GUILD
Saturday and Sunday Masses as available.

ST. MICHAEL CHOIR — Men’s and Women’s Schola
Weekly rehearsal: Thur 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Service at 10:30 a.m. Mass on 1^st and 3^rd Sundays

ST. MICHAEL CHOIR — Youth Schola (Gr. 9-12)
Weekly rehearsal: Sunday 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Service at 10:30 a.m. Mass with Men’s and Women’s Schola on 1^st and 3^rd Sundays

ST. MICHAEL CHOIR — Choristers (Gr. 4-8)
Weekly small group lessons: Thurs 3:40-4:10 p.m.
Weekly rehearsal: Thurs 4:15 p.m. – 5:25 p.m.
Service at 10:30 a.m. Mass with Men’s, Women’s, and Youth Schola on 1^st and 3^rd Sundays

SONGBIRDS TRAINING PROGRAM — Songbirds (Gr. 1-3)
Weekly rehearsals: Tues, Wed 3:40 p.m. – 4:10 p.m.

For more information about joining a choir please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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VESPERS             CONCERTS

Missed our St. Michael Choir Concert?

You can listen to it here!

Program
includes texts for each piece

Part I
includes Psalm 150 by the children of the
St. Benedict and St. Gregory Boy Choirs, and the St. Hildegard and St. Cecilia Girl Choirs

Part II
featuring the Fauré Requiem

♫  MUSIC NOTES ♫

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Hymn of the Month—No. 200, “Savior of the Nations, Come”

The Advent hymn, “Savior of the Nations, Come” is based on the Latin hymn, Veni redemptor gentium, ascribed to St. Ambrose (A.D. 340-397).  St. Ambrose used hymnody to refute heresy and to popularize the orthodox Christian faith.  In singing this hymn, we join St. Ambrose and all other defenders of the faith in announcing the mystery of the Incarnation, proclaiming that Jesus Christ is both God and man, begotten of God and not created.  We express the awe and wonder of being present to this mystery in Christ’s coming in history, in the celebration of his coming to us now in Word and Sacrament, and in the anticipation of his return in glory.

The custom of singing congregational hymns during Mass comes to us from the practice in Germany and Austria in the 13^th century. This practice was carried through the Protestant Reformation and is now common to our American religious experience.  While we are called to “sing THE Mass” rather than “sing AT Mass”—as the Church continually reminds us—the singing of popular hymns will continue to be a way that faith is formed and shared across generations. 

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Hymn of the Month—No. 425, “Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones”

The hymn “Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones” is sung to the same tune as “All Creatures of Our God and King.” This hymn calls upon the whole company of heaven to praise God—including the nine choirs of angels, the Mother of God (bearer of the eternal Word), the saints, patriarchs, prophets, apostles and martyrs. But it doesn’t end here. In the last verse we, the people of God, are invited together with this heavenly host to raise our minds, hearts and voices in singing praise to our Creator and King. Alleluia!

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Hymn of the Month—No. 300, “All Creatures of Our God and King”

This fall, we will be focusing on a hymn each month. We’ll sing it at several Masses and use it as a tool in our music ministry programs to teach not only singing, but also theology and spirituality. This will help each one of us to know “in our bones” a core group of sacred hymns and songs.

“All Creatures of Our God and King” is based on a poem by St. Francis called the “Canticle of the Sun.” In a translation by William Draper, made for a children’s festival, the text speaks of calling on all creation to praise God.  As we sing this hymn we are invited to be aware of how all creatures give glory to God by being just what God created them to be. Let us reflect upon the ways in which we, who are made in God’s own image, give glory in the same way.

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LOVE IT – Music Ministry at St. Michael the Archangel

The parish music ministry programs at St. Michael the Archangel are directed towards the fostering and encouragement of life-long praise of God, both as individuals and in community. As the 2012-2013 school year launches, our parish music ministry is excited to announce several new program developments.

The music ministry has been continuing to expand its music programs for children in the parish. This school year the 4^th and 5^th grades of our parish school will have the opportunity to be a part of a grade-wide choir, separated into boys and girls. Not only will the students get to experience and participate in learning some of the great Catholic choral music for children, but they will also have the privilege of serving as the choir at weekend Masses throughout the year.

Another exciting development this year is a program called “Faith Through Song.” This program integrates a musical component into the formation of the students during the regular Religious Education classes. Each class will be visited once a month by a volunteer who will lead them in a singing lesson based on a hymn of the month.

Also, on November 3, the St. Michael Choir will present for the first time a concert of sacred music featuring Gabriel Faure’s Requiem Op. 48. The St. Michael Choir is an intergenerational choir which includes the Choristers (grades 4-8), the Youth Schola (grades 9-12), and the Men’s and Women’s Schola.  

Finally, everyone is invited to join together to sing the Liturgy of the Hours every Sunday at 6pm in the choir loft.  Liturgy of the Hours, the official communal prayer of the Church, is a combination of prayers and psalms that are meant to be sung in community to worship God.

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MEET THE STAFF

D i r e c t o r   o f   M u s i c

Kevin Vogt is a native of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and has served St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish as music director since April 2008.  He has also served churches in Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska, most notably the Cathedral of Saint Paul, St. Paul, MN, and Saint Cecilia Cathedral, Omaha, NE.

During his tenure in Omaha he also oversaw the commission of a renowned cathedral organ by Martin Pasi & Associates, one of two large organs in the world capable of playing in two distinct temperaments or tuning systems. The organ was completed in 2003 and has been lauded by admirers worldwide.

Kevin enjoys varied professional activity as a composer, organ teacher, lecturer, performer, conductor, consultant and scholar. He currently a Lecturer in Organ and Church Music at the University of Kansas, where he teaches courses in service playing and improvisation, organ building and design, children's choir techniques, and Gregorian Chant.  A graduate of St. Olaf College, he earned the master's degree at the University of Notre Dame, and the doctor of musical arts degree at the University of Kansas. His principal teachers have been James Higdon, Craig Cramer, David Boe and John Ferguson.

Kevin and his family reside in Overland Park.

 CHOIR RESOURCES

Songbirds

Choristers

Men's and Women's Schola

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Questions about Music and Liturgy?