St. Cecilia Institute for Pastoral Musicians

St. Cecilia Institute is for all music ministers, paid and volunteer. This year’s institute features tracks for directors and members of music ministries, paid or volunteer. August 5-7, be inspired by Steve Petrunak, Jaime Cortez, extended breakout sessions led by local clinicians and plenty of time for prayer, food, and social time with fellow music ministers. Register by 25 July 2025.

Download Brochure

Schedule of Events:

Tuesday, 5 Aug 2025

A day of inspiration, prayer, and fellowship

2:30pm - Registration & Welcome
3:00pm - Keynote: Steve Petrunak “Accompanying the Journey with Hope”
5:00pm - Vespers
6:00pm - Dinner
7:30pm - Concert: Jaime Cortez, Steve Petrunak & friends Social to follow

Wednesday, 6 Aug 2025

A day of learning, prayer, and fellowship.

Breakouts offered in two tracks: (I for Music Directors/Leaders; II for Cantors/Choristers/Music Ministers)

8:00am - Breakfast
8:30am - Morning Prayer
9:00am - Reflections from the Office for Worship
10:00am - Break

10:15am - 11:30am Breakout A: Voice

• Voice I – Managing aging voices, caring for your choir’s voice
• Voice II – Care for the aging voice

11:45am - Mass
12:30pm - Lunch

1:30pm – 2:45pm - Breakout B: Technology

• Technology I – Dorico Music Software
• Technology II – Overview of general sound system principles, microphone technique

2:45pm - Break
3:00pm - Keynote: Jaime Cortez “The Heart of Cultural Hospitality”
4:15pm - Break

4:30pm – 5:45pm - Breakout C: Sing/Plan

• Sing/Plan I – Repertoire analysis, liturgy planning strategies
• Sing/Plan II – Sight singing, music analysis, tips for cantor/choir

6:00pm - Dinner
7:30pm - Panel discussion – Unpacking what we’ve learned

Social to follow

Thursday, Aug 7, 2025

Two Options:

Option 1: CLEF day with Jaime Cortez, Steve Petrunak & friends
CLEF (Catholic Liturgical Ensemble Formation) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to offer support and resources that can improve church ensemble musicianship across the US. On Thursday 7 August 2025 during the St. Cecilia Institute, CLEF leaders will provide a full day of hands-on training for ensemble instrumentalists and singers.

During the morning session, instrumentalists and vocalists work independently on skills unique to their own ministry:

• Instrumentalists will explore positive ways of playing together that “leaves room” for each other and individual techniques that complement the overall instrumental experience.
• Vocalists will explore proper breathing and effective choral singing techniques (vowel formations, cutoffs, diction, vocal blend, etc.) that make for beautiful ensemble singing.

In the afternoon session, instrumentalists and singers come together to explore how best to work as one to make the ensemble music experience exceptional.

Option 2: A Traditional Approach: Organ / Chant / Conducting / Spirituality

8:00am - Breakfast
8:30am - Morning Prayer

9:00am – 10:15am Breakout D: Chant

• Chant I – Utilizing chant in liturgy, strategies, techniques, proper pronunciation
• Chant II – techniques, best practices, proper pronunciation

10:15am – 10:30am - Break
10:30am – 11:30am - Organ Restoration / Maintenance Conversation

– or –

9:00am – 11:30am CLEF Part 1

11:45am - Mass
12:30pm - Lunch

1:30pm – 3:30pm Breakout E (for A Traditional Approach):

• I Leaders of Music: Choral conducting & Recruitment
• II Spirituality of the Music Minister

– or –

1:30pm - 3:30pm CLEF Part 2

3:45pm - Service Music Review: Survey Results
5:00pm - Vespers
5:30pm - Happy hour/social

Registration options include single days, or save $10 by registering for the full 3-day institute. Registration fees cover meals, breaks, socials, and all handouts. Optional overnight accommodations are available again this year. Lodging of $160 covers two nights (Tuesday and Wednesday) in a single room with private bath that includes linens and towels. Tuesday’s concert is FREE to all! Financial assistance is available upon request for those in need – please don’t let finances stand in the way of formation. Contact the Office for Worship at 216-696-6525, x4120 with questions.

If you need to purchase multiple types of tickets in your order, you may have to use the back button to after adding each type of ticket to your cart.

Upon registration, an email with a link to choose breakout-sessions will be sent to the email account used for registration.