Sacred Music Program
Sacred music glorifies God and uplifts people’s spirits, helping them to praise and worship God during church services and feel closer to the spiritual mysteries being celebrated. It brings a sense of divine grace and enriches people’s spiritual lives through its essential characteristics of holiness, beauty, and universality. Sacred music is free from worldly influences, beautiful enough to uplift people’s spirits, and universal to bring people together in worship, regardless of their culture or language.
ABOUT STAR OF THE SEA SACRED MUSIC PROGRAM
Karolina Zapolska, as Director of the Sacred Music Program, manages an expanding sacred music program rooted in Gregorian chant and Catholic liturgy. Karolina oversees multiple choirs, including children’s and adult scholas, selects music for the Traditional Latin Mass, organizes rehearsals, and collaborates closely with clergy and musicians to foster a sense of beauty and reverence in worship. Karolina holds a BA in Musicology from Aarhus University, a Master’s in Performance, Design, and Business Studies from Roskilde University, and has completed a Graduate-Level Course Certified in Sacred Music. Her studies emphasized Gregorian Chant, Chironomy, Gregorian Rhythm, the Choral Institute, and the Divine Office at the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California. For more information, please contac Karolina Zapolska: karolina@starparish.com
Lynn Kreahling, Director of Music, is pivotal in crafting the sacred musical atmosphere that enhances our parish’s liturgy. With his masterful organ performances and thoughtful selection of music, Lynn brings a sense of reverence and beauty to every Mass. He collaborates closely with professional cantors and offers steadfast support to our parish choirs, ensuring that each piece of music resonates with our community’s spiritual heart.
For those seeking a music ensemble for weddings or funerals, Lynn is available to help create a meaningful and memorable musical experience tailored to these special occasions. For more information, please contact Lynn Kreahling: (415) 812-2462, or lynn@starparish.com
MUSIC PROGRAM
GREGORIAN CHANT, with its pure and unadulterated melodies, holds a special place in church services and has been used as a model for other types of sacred music. Its melodies, considered the purest form of the Church’s prayer and praise, emphasize the importance of maintaining the Church’s musical tradition and values, instilling a sense of sanctity and reverence in the hearts of the listeners.
GREGORIAN CHANT CLASS FOR ADULTS
Star of the Sea Church is offering a Gregorian Chant Class for Adults starting in the fall of 2025. The classes will be held every Wednesday from 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The class curriculum will cover the following lessons: 1) How to read Square Notes | 2) Ear Training | 3) How to sight read and sing | 4) Introduction to the basics of conducting chant through applying the Solesmes Method. The ability to sing (i.e., “carry a tune”) is essentialto grasp the beauty of fully Gregorian Chant, which sets it apart from other forms of music. More information coming soon.
For more information or for enrollment in the parish Gregorian chant classes, please contact: Karolina, karolina@starparish.com
THE CHOIRS
Latin Choir serves the Latin Sunday Mass at 11.30 am, bringing the beauty of sacred music to life by singing the Ordinary of the Mass. The choir performs from both square and modern notation, offering a blend of tradition and contemporary practice. The choir also sings Latin motets and polyphonies, enriching the liturgy with timeless works of choral music. The choir has a weekly rehearsal on Tuesday from 7-8.30 pm And Sunday at 10.30 am.
English Choir serves the Novus Ordo Masses at 9:30 am singing primarily in English. We lead the congregation in traditional hymns and enhance the liturgy with beautiful motets, creating a prayerful and uplifting worship experience. The choir has a weekly rehearsal on Monday from 7-8:30 pm and Sunday at 8:30 am.
AVE MARIS STELLA SCHOLA (CHILDREN)
It is a group specifically designed for kids and teenagers interested in learning how to sing Gregorian chant and Latin hymns. The goal is to help them develop the skills needed to sing various sacred music. We employ the Ward Method, a progressive teaching approach tailored for elementary school children. This method teaches music, including square notes notation, ear training, sight reading, and basic conducting using the Solesmes method. The classes are held every Monday from 4:15 pm to 5:15 pm for children aged 7-13.
AVE MARIS STELLA SCHOLA (ADULTS)
The Schola sings Gregorian Chant at the High Latin Mass on Sundays, First Fridays (Sacred Heart of Jesus), First Saturdas and on feast days celebrated with a Sung Mass during the week. The Schola chants the Mass Propers and the Mass Ordinaries from the 1962 Liber Usalis in accordance with the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.
The women’s schola has a weekly rehearsal on Tuesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., and the men’s schola from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
The choirs and scholas are under the leadership of Karolina Zapolska. For more information, please contact: karolina@starparish.com