Music

Music at St. Michael's

Music is a major part of worship at St. Michael & All Angels. Most services have some music, whether it be the full choir accompanying our Æolian-Skinner Pipe Organ at the 10:30 AM Solemn Mass, or the congregation singing at our Family Mass, accompanied on guitar. Guest musicians often accompany the choirs. Music during the High Mass ranges from familiar hymns to classical pieces to original music.

Music is intimately bound with the proclamation of the Word, an opportunity for us to express through hymns, anthems and liturgy those feelings that are often difficult to express with words. The music of the Christian faith is meant to deepen and enrich our worship experience. Music has the ability to make us of one heart and voice, a natural response of a living faith. Those who are called to presenting music for worship have the important task of leading worshipers toward greater heights of inspiration and beauty, to the glory of God.

Our Choir

The St. Michael and All Angels Choir sings at the 10:30 AM Solemn Mass on most Sundays, at feast day Masses, and during Holy Week.

Dr. Chris Fresolone serves as Director of Music. In addition to his work at St. Michael’s, Chris teaches choir, band, piano, and music theory at the Gregory School. His previous work in churches includes service at Christ Presbyterian Church and Casas Adobes UCC Church. Chris is a composer and arranger as well.

Weekly choir rehearsals are Tuesdays at 7:00 PM and on Sunday mornings. We are always looking for new voices!

Our Organ

The organ has long been considered the most effective musical resource for worship. Its primary function is that of accompanying congregational singing. A well-designed organ is an effective accompaniment to the human voice. Its unique timbre, even at full volume, will complement rather than cover congregational singing. An organ should also offer a variety of tone colors to give it the flexibility needed for other liturgical uses, and for use as a solo instrument.

Our Æolian-Skinner organ is an excellent representation of the “American Classic” design. It was originally built for Christ Methodist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1959. St. Michael’s purchased this instrument in 1989. In 1998, after repairs and upgrades were made, it was installed at St. Michael’s. The organ has seen the addition of the Antiphonal division, as well as changes and additions to the other divisions.

Our completed instrument has been renamed the A. F. Schultz Organ, in recognition of Alan F. Schultz’s many contributions to St. Michael’s and the Tucson community.