All are welcome and invited to participate in our
MUSIC MINISTRY PROGRAM.
We currently have several choirs and ensembles that need members:
- our PARISH CHOIR sings at the 11:00am mass each Sunday and rehearses on Thursday evenings at 7:30pm
- our TEEN ENSEMBLE is open to all members of the community, especially TEENS. We meet at 3:30pm each Sunday and sing for the 5:00pm liturgy
- we have several beginning and intermediate HANDBELL CHOIRS for adults and children. Please see the bulletin for rehearsal times.
- our PARISH CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS CHOIR sings at the 4:00pm mass on Christmas Eve.
A Message From FRANCESCO ALLERUZZO
My name is Francesco Alleruzzo (frawn-CHESS-koh ah-ley-ROOT-zoh) and I am the DIRECTOR of the MUSIC MINISTRY here at St Mel Parish. I received my Bachelor of Music (BM) degree from Mount St Mary's College with an emphasis in Liturgical Music after which I went to USC for a Master of Music (MM) degree in Choral Music. I also spent time working toward a second Master's degree in Orchestral Conducting before leaving for Phoenix. In addition to Conducting, my major areas of study were Voice, Organ, and Piano. I spent time in Siena, Italy studying Conducting and Voice at the Accademia Musicale Chiginia. I have performed and conducted music from the Oratorio, Operatic, and Orchestral repertoire. I am quite comfortable in all styles of music including chant, Renaissance polyphony and motets, Baroque and Classic masses of Bach, Mozart, Haydn, and Schubert, and 19th and 20th century choral works. I am equally at home with contemporary styles of liturgical music that include jazz, gospel, American folk, ethnic, and music from the praise and worship tradition.
Besides my music studies, I have studied Liturgy through Mount St Mary's College and through the certification program of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. As Associate Director of Litergy for the Diocese of Phoenix, I was very active giving workshops, retreats, and classes in both Spanish and English. While in Phoenix, I was an active member of the Liturgical Commission, whose function was to continually work toward liturgical renewal, ongoing formation and catechesis.
As Director of Music for the Diocese of Phoenix, and the Cathedral of SS. Simon & Jude, I planned, prepared, and conducted the music for all ceremonial liturgies and weekly services. I conducted the Diocesan Chorale and Cathedral Choirs regularly for masses and concerts throughout the region. I also served as a resource and a consultant to many of the other music/liturgy directors there. I also provided music for many of the major conferences including the Youth/Adult leadership Ministries Conference which was held annually.
I have been very involved in the field of education, having taught grammar school and high school. I was a professor of music at Mount St Mary's College teaching voice, piano, chorus, and music appreciation. My duties in Phoenix involved formation of liturgical music ministers as choir directors, cantors, and accompanists.
My role here is to SUPPORT and EMPOWER all of our cantors, choirs, and instrumentalists to sing and play their best, keeping their focus on the liturgy. I promise you my PASSION and DEDICATION, because experience has taught me that a solid music ministry program is built and sustained through HARD WORK and VISION. I also believe that the role of music in the liturgy is to INSPIRE, ENLIGHTEN, and ENCOURAGE you, the assembly, to life your HEARTS and SOULS, and most especially your VOICES, in praise and thanksgiving as ONE VOICE, ONE BODY, ONE FAMILY of God. I look forward to continue getting to know all of you becoming a VITAL part of the St Mel Familiy. Thank you!