St. Mary’s Cathedral Choir School is located at Stella Maris Academy, in the heart of San Francisco. The Choir School was established in 2009, when St. Mary’s Cathedral entered into a partnership with St. Brigid Elementary School to establish a choir school there. A five stage development was proposed, starting with building up of the existing school choir program into a vibrant ensemble, then enhancing music education for all children in the classroom, with more time for music class and a curriculum inspired by the Kodaly and Ward Methods, which stress vocal music, music reading, and artistic expression. In 2024, the Choir School moved to Stella Maris Academy, where choir members receive a classical education in a traditional Catholic environment. The Choir School also includes students of Nativity High School, which shares a campus with Stella Maris Academy.
The choir has daily rehearsals, and the repertoire includes Gregorian chant, Renaissance polyphony, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary music, and their selections of Spirituals are a special delight of audiences.
In the Classroom
Children receive an extensive musical education. All students, not just choir members, are beneficiaries of this unique program. The Kodaly and Ward methods are used exclusively in K-8. All grades have music instruction several times a week. Students learn to read and experience music through listening, singing, writing, and moving.
To enhance the Kodaly and Ward Methods, classroom instrument instruction is integrated into the curriculum. Recorders are taught in grades 3 and 4, strings in grades 5 and 6, and handbells in grades 7 and 8. The lower grades will have some percussion instruments integrated into their music study.
The choir school project is partially funded by St. Mary’s Cathedral.
