The Catholic Music Ministry (choirs and cantors (song leaders) provides musical support at various liturgies throughout the year:  weekend Masses, holy days of obligation, special and para-liturgies (such as Penance Services, etc.) funerals, weddings, and so on.  The vast majority of the people who participate in the ministry are volunteers, and with a very few exceptions, no prior experience or training is required.  The overall coordinator of the program is Ron Duquette   (703-362-5373, [email protected]).  The various parts of the ministry are:
 
CONTEMPORARY CHOIR:  Sings at the Sunday 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sundays at Belvoir Chapel (Main Post).  Rehearsals are Monday nights starting at 7 PM and usually running 30-45 minutes at Woodlawn Chapel (North Fort) Choir Room (although they can run longer when prepping for things like Christmas and Easter), and immediately before 9:30 Mass at Belvoir Chapel (usually about 9:00 a.m.).  Leader is Ed Byers.  Music sung is contemporary in nature.
 
TRADITIONAL CHOIR:  Sings at the Sunday 11:00 a.m. Mass at Belvoir Chapel (Main Post).  Rehearsals are Wednesday nights from 7:30-9:00 p.m. at Woodlawn Chapel Choir Room, and immediately before Mass from 10:15 - 10:45 a.m. on Sunday morning at Belvoir Chapel's Choir Room (downstairs below the sanctuary).  Leader is Ron Duquette.  Music sung ranges from classical sacred music of the last six centuries to traditional hymns (e.g., "Holy, Holy, Holy," "How Great Thou Art," etc.) to contemporary sacred music.
 
CANTORS (Songleaders):  Sing at the Saturday 5:00 p.m. Mass at Woodlawn Chapel (North Fort).  Coordinator is Ron Duquette.  Rehearsal is individual; however, cantors who wish are encouraged to join the Traditional Choir for the first part of the Wednesday night rehearsals at Woodlawn Chapel to go over the music for the weekend (as appropriate).
 
INSTRUMENTALISTS:  Are always welcome for every Mass and liturgy.  The Contemporary Choir has a long history of their participation, and string, woodwind and guitar instrumentalists are in regular use.  Instrumentalists would be very welcome for the Traditional Choir, as well as for the Hispanic Choir.  In all instances, some degree of training is a prerequisite, and the respective leaders would need to be consulted before using instrumentalists at any of the Masses. Please contact the Choir leaders for further information.