Music Ministry

The Parish Choir is an important part of worship at Saint Peter’s Church. The group sings at our 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday mornings and at important Feasts throughout the year.  They also lead the singing for special Liturgies throughout the year.  If you are interested in finding out more about the Choir, please contact  Mr. Robert Ellis, our Pastoral Musician.

Parish Choir

Our choir rehearses on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m.. We prepare harmony for the music which we sing during our weekend liturgy on Sundays at 10:30 am . We also prepare occasional anthems, as well as an extensive prelude of anthems for Christmas Midnight Mass, and for the Holy Triduum during Holy Week. We do not sing during the summer season. We always need more singers, especially tenors and basses. All are welcome.

Funeral Choir

Our funeral choir gathers about 30 minutes before each funeral, and sings during the funeral liturgy to provide comfort and support for the grieving family. Music provides a way to uplift our spirits on such occasions.

Cantors / Song Leaders

Each of our liturgies has an assigned cantor to sing the verses of the responsorial psalm and the communion songs, as well as facilitate congregational participation in accordance with the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. Anyone from high school to adult who wishes to cantor is encouraged to speak with our pastoral musician.

Pastoral Musician

Robert Ellis serves as the organist and choir director of the parish. He is a graduate of WVU with a master’s degree in church music with organ emphasis, and four years of study toward the DMA in organ & choral conducting from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. He has served on the Diocesan Liturgical Music Commission, and was state president of the West Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.

Associates

James Cimino is ordinarily our Sunday 8 a.m. Organist, and also assists with extra Holyday and special liturgies. He is a graduate of WVU, and teaches at Fairmont Senior High School. Additional instrumentalists and guest musicians occasionally assist with weddings, other liturgies, and special Feasts and Holydays. These have included: violinist John Morrison, Brooks Parker performing the keyboard preludes for our Christmas Midnight Mass, and others, including former and present students of Robert Ellis.