About the Music Program
Music has always played an important role in the liturgical life of the parish, a tradition which continues and flourishes to this day. Under the leadership of our late Music Director William Ferris, the congregation has had an opportunity to worship with music from the rich heritage of the Western Church. Polyphony and Gregorian Chant are sung along with works of 18th and 19th century masters as well as contemporary composers, a tradition which continues under the leadership of our Music Director, Paul French.
The Sunday afternoon liturgies feature contemporary song accompanied by piano and diverse musical instruments.
The congregation is an active participant in all the liturgies through spirited singing of responsorial psalms, Eucharistic acclamations and hymnody.
The liturgical year at Our Lady of Mount Carmel is filled with voices and instruments making a joyful noise to the Lord!
Staff
Paul French, Music Director
Prior to joining the Music staff of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in January of 2001, Paul French has worked in parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago for nearly two decades, including St. James (Arlington Heights), Old St. Patrick's. St. Vincent Ferrer (River Forest) and St. John of the Cross (Western Springs). In actuality this is Paul's second tenure at Mount Carmel, having served an apprenticeship on the music staff under his teacher, William Ferris, from 1987-1989. He has studied composition, chant, conducting and organ at St. John's University (Collegeville, MN), Northwestern University and the Pontificio Istituto di Musica Sacra in Rome. Paul was appointed Music Director of the William Ferris Chorale May 16, 2005. He has composed more than 200 instrumental and choral works in a variety of media including works for choir, voice, organ, brass and orchestra. He is active in the Chicago area as a recording session conductor and producer, and is the proud father of two sons, William and Andrew.
John Vorrasi, Principal Cantor
Tenor John Vorrasi has been a featured soloist in many concerts and liturgies throughout the country. He sang at Holy Name Cathedral for seven seasons and has been principal Cantor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church since 1985. A frequent soloist with the William Ferris Chorale, he has also appeared at the Spoleto Festival: USA, the Aldeburgh Festival, with the Chicago Opera Theater, the Virginia Philharmonic, the Tarvos Ensemble and the Chicago String Ensemble. He won critical acclaim for his performance as the Evangelist on the world premiere recording of Leo Sowerby's Forsaken of Man on New World Records. His recitals of contemporary music, often with composers such as Ned Rorem and Lee Hoiby serving as his accompanist, have been broadcast by the BBC, Radio Vaticana, WFMT and WNIB. He serves as Artistic Director of the William Ferris Chorale, an internationally acclaimed ensemble he founded in 1972 with composer/conductor William Ferris.
The Liturgical Year
2007-2008 Music Season
Click here to access a complete, printable listing of choral selections for Liturgical Year 2007-2008 (PDF format).
In Memory of William Ferris
Born into Eternal Life May 16, 2000
William Ferris, who was Chicago-born and -trained, has had his music performed by major American orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony, premiered at Britain's prestigious Aldeburgh Festival in 1986 and broadcast world-wide by the BBC. He was the founder and conductor of the internationally acclaimed William Ferris Chorale, an ensemble that specializes in 20th century choral music until his sudden death on May 16, 2000 as he conducted a rehearsal of the Verdi Requiem. Snowcarols, a work he wrote for the Chorale in 1980, was nominated for a Pulitzer prize.
Ferris studied in a master/apprentice program with composer Leo Sowerby. His other principal artist/teachers have included Alexander Tcherepnin, Paul Stassevitch, James Welch and Arthur Becker. For seven years, Ferris was organist of Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral. During Fulton J. Sheen's episcopacy as Bishop of Rochester, New York, Ferris held the position of organist/choirmaster at Sacred Heart Cathedral. He is the Music Director and Composer-in-Residence at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Chicago. Ferris received numerous awards and honors for his outstanding contributions to the musical arts, was the first American composer to teach at the Vatican. His Holiness Pope John Paul II conferred a Papal knighthood upon him in 1989, and Radio Vaticana broadcast a concert of his music world-wide. Northwestern University has established the William Ferris Archive, which contains all his musical compositions, preliminary sketches, correspondence and memorabilia.