Tag: Musica Sacra

Musica Sacra celebrates 60 with a world premiere

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A previous concert by Musica Sacra at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption/ photo provided

The choral ensemble Musica Sacra has commissioned a new work in honor of its 60th anniversary. Directed by Dr. L. Brett Scott, Musica Sacra will perform the world premiere of “Receiving” by award-winning composer Jessica French, 3 p.m. October, 26, 2025 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, KY. The program also includes Haydn’s “Harmoniemesse.”

Musica Sacra is second only to the Cincincinnati May Festival as the oldest continually operating community choral group in Cincinnati. It was founded in 1965 by Helmut Roehrig, whose vision was to create an ensemble for performing sacred choral literature in the spaces for which they were intended, accompanied by an orchestra, and at no charge to the public. He led the group for 50 years.

The Seattle-based composer will attend the performance. During the week, she’ll work with students at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, where Scott is Professor of Ensembles and Conducting. French’s work has been commissioned by BBC Singers, the St. Olaf Cantorei and Orchestra; the St. Thomas Choir of Men and Boys (NYC), and the Choir of Trinity Church Wall Street (NYC) among others.Read More »

Musica Sacra to return to live concerts

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Musica Sacra in a recording session for a livestream during Covid last season. The chorus will return to in-person performances.

As the nation reopens from a year of lockdowns, more choruses are announcing that they will be returning to live performances. Of course, during the pandemic, vocal music was considered the most deadly form of spreading the Covid-19 virus.

Musica Sacra, a 60-member chorus founded in 1965, joyfully returns for its 56th season, live and in person. This year, the chorus will also collaborate with the CCM Chorale in Patricia Corbett Theater on the UC campus.

After a year of virtual programming, this season will be emotional, said director Brett Scott.

“The selections across this season present a range of emotions that may echo what many experienced in the past year,” Scott said. “From the terrifying trumpets at the opening of our first selection, the Lord Nelson Mass, to the poignant chorales of the Christmas Oratorio that are contrasted with grand, exuberant chorus movements, to the exquisitely tender consolation that envelops you throughout the German Requiem, each of these masterworks speaks to the heart of the human experience. They are audience-pleasing works in the best sense of the word and we are thrilled that our audiences will be able to experience them with us this year.”Read More »

Musica Sacra offers streamed concert, rehearsed and recorded live

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Musica Sacra in St. Boniface Church, Northside, in a previous concert

Cincinnati’s Musica Sacra community choral group is streaming a special performance of Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, and his “Cantique de Jean Racine,” Nov. 25 through Dec. 4. The most unique aspect of this performance is that it was rehearsed and recorded live with orchestra, with its performers masked and socially distanced at St. Boniface Church in Northside earlier in November.

You may recall that early in the pandemic, it was determined that singing in a chorus could be among the most dangerous things one could do, because of the spread of aerosols while singing. Musica Sacra found a beautiful sanctuary that was also large enough for adequate spacing in St. Boniface Church, which also has a modern HVAC system.

The choir, currently led by music director L. Brett Scott, associate professor of Ensembles and Conducting at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), has been rehearsing in person this fall, following guidance from the American Choral Directors Association and an aerosol study performed by the International Coalition of Performing Arts.

Musica Sacra in a recording session for the livestream, tomorrow through Dec. 4. Provided by Musica Sacra

Members of the chorus wore special ‘singers’ masks, sat at the recommended distance apart, and sang for only 30 minutes at a time in small groups.  A 25-minute break between groups allows for the air to be cleared.Read More »

COVID-19 derails Carnegie Hall debut for local musicians

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Howard Helvey and choir rehearsing for Carnegie Hall debut. They are hopeful that it will be rescheduled.

Perhaps you saw this article in yesterday’s Business Courier, which says:

“Many musicians dream of performing at Carnegie Hall, America’s legendary concert hall in New York. This weekend, Cincinnati conductor and composer Howard Helvey will realize that dream when he leads members of the Choir of Calvary Episcopal Church and the Varsity Ensemble of Winton Woods High School in eight of his own works at Carnegie Hall. Helvey will lead a festival chorus of more than 150 singers – including the Cincinnati ensembles – in his music on March 15 in Stern Auditorium.”

Of course, that is not happening. I reached out to Howard to find out what happened.Read More »

Helmut Roehrig founded music department at Xavier University

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img_9071Helmut J. Roehrig established the music department at Xavier University, founded a chorus devoted to performing sacred masterpieces and was an accomplished organist. Music was his passion, but he never wanted accolades. Instead, said his friends and family members, it was his way of giving back.

“He brought out the best in everyone that he dealt with in any way,” said his wife of 54 years, Mary Evelyn Roehrig of Hyde Park. “Especially with people who never knew they could sing. They seemed to appreciate his striving for excellence, and he put his whole heart and soul into everything he did.”

Dr. Roehrig died on Nov. 6 at his home following a lengthy illness. He was 85.

Dr. Roehrig was born in Wiesbaden, Germany in 1932. In 1959, he traveled to Covington, KY, to become organist of St. Aloysius Church (now merged with Mother of God parish). He continued working there until he was able to pay back the parish for his ship fare, his wife said.Read More »