Gregorian Singers and Friends Concert

Professor Raúl Anzaldo Cabrera, music director for La Misión El Santo Niño Jesús in St. Paul, is pictured here with the Gregorian Singers and their founder and director Monte Mason. The Gregorian Singers premiered two of Cabrera's choral compositions on Sunday, October 10, as part of a "Gregorian Singers and Friends" concert held at St. Paul's-on-the-Hill Episcopal Church in St. Paul.

The Gregorian Singers are "in residence" at St. Paul's, where the El Santo Niño mission is also located. The Gregorians and the Santo Niño choirs practice on the same night of the week. "I have had the pleasure of hearing Professor Cabrera's psalms in rehearsal," says Gregorian Singers director Monte Mason, "and things developed from there."

The two pieces that were premiered on October 10 were Santo ("Sanctus"), taken from a complete Mass setting by Cabrera; and Albricias, a Christmas carol. Cabrera was "thrilled" to hear the performances, and was beaming throughout the afternoon. He expressed his gratitude in remarks made at the concert and afterward. "I have no tenors or basses in my choir," he said, "so I arranged this music just for the Gregorian Singers." Cabrera has composed or arranged a number of hymns for El Santo, but he has also written anthems and other music for Christmas and Holy Week, some of which has not been performed. Both Cabrera and Mason hope to rectify this as their collaboration continues in the future.

Day of the Dead Concert

A picture of the Altar de Muertos from the Day of the Dead concert. Photo by Susan Barksdale.