The National Association of Pastoral Musicians
Hartford, Connecticut Chapter

~ Spring 2009 Newsletter ~ Click Here!

Click Here to print the Registration Form

Click Here to print the Registration Form

Welcome to the Hartford web site! The National Association of Pastoral Musicians is an organization of musicians and clergy dedicated to fostering the art of musical liturgy (the NPM mission statement can be found in this web site). We work together to provide mutual support for parish musicians, a forum for advocating musical excellence in liturgical celebrations, a vehicle for evaluating new and current music, and to assist diocesan and parish efforts in improving the quality and interest in parish music.  Please peruse this site and it’s web links, and contact the director if you have any questions or comments.  

Click Here to download an NPM Hartford Chapter Application Form.

NPM-Hartford has a group on

The group is restricted to NPM-Hartford members and guests.  You must register for a free account on Facebook to access the group.

NPM CANTOR INSTITUTE AT HOLY FAMILY RETREAT CENTER THIS JULY 17- 19, 2008!
SPONSORED BY THE HARTFORD CHAPTER, NPM.

Here is some basic info about our upcoming CANTOR INSTITUTE at the Retreat Center.
The web link below will bring you to more info and the registration form.  Our experience with National Level workshops is that they are excellent. Our previous CHOIR DIRECTOR INSTITUTE held three summers ago at the Retreat Center was a great success.  We encourage all cantors to take advantage of this opportunity at a local level.  We ask that you spread the word to others who might be interested, too.

Any other questions can be directed to Cornell Bialicki at  Cornellski@aol.com  or by calling 203- 393-3459.

Cantor Express
4 Dates and Locations

The weekend has something to offer cantors at all levels of experience: beginner, advanced, and professional. Most cantors are proficient in some areas but need to develop in others. Some participants are even discerning whether this ministry is right for them and come simply to explore. Whatever your level of skill and experience, the institute offers you an opportunity to assess areas for growth, begin to fill in gaps, and lay the groundwork for a firmer foundation for your ministry.

The weekend includes interactive lectures, discussion, reflection, skill building (group voice classes, interpretation, and coaching), and repertoire that best reflects the core identity of the cantor. At some points in the weekend, you will have the opportunity to choose sessions according to your own needs. Meals include Friday dinner to Sunday lunch. Note: The Cantor Express program in Hartford, Connecticut, begins on Thursday night and ends on Saturday at 9:00 pm. The ACTUAL LOCATION OF THIS EVENT IS THE PASSIONIST RETREAT CENTER IN WEST HARTFORD!

All we ask is that you come with an open mind and reasonable expectations! For instance, if you don’t already read music, we can teach you the basics. If you’ve had vocal training and need help with your interpretive skills, we can offer you some useful tools. If you have limited knowledge of Scripture, liturgy, and the psalms, we can help your development in those areas. In short, we can’t offer you complete training in a single weekend, but we can share the riches of our liturgical heritage, provide useful tools for your ministry, and lead you to additional resources.


Click Here: Check out "NPM Institutes"
 

Chapter News Update

Our Board of Directors met recently and I want to give you these dates so you can mark them on your calendars as NPM events you will not want to miss...... more info will follow with a newsletter, but for now - THANKS!

SUNDAY, May 18th, 2008 at 7 p.m. - Saint Vincent Ferrer Church in Naugatuck, CT - 1006 New Haven Road (Route 63) .....we will have directions. I have a commitment from GIA to have FREE - the new Gather Comprehensive for each person in attendance! We are hoping to get the New Voices As One 2 books from WLP, too! The workshop will be presented by Cornell Bialicki and Andrew Brochu, both Music Ministers at Saint Vincent Ferrari Church. This promises to be an exciting time and you'll leave with many good ideas and a lot of new music. Please plan on attending. Current NPM Hartford Chapter members get in for free, others pay $10.

Our Chapter is sponsoring an NPM NATIONAL CANTOR WORKSHOP at the Passionist Retreat Center on July 17, 18, and 19, 2008. The program starts Thursday evening and runs through Saturday.....You'll probably see the details about this in a NPM Publication or at the Retreat Center site soon, but more info will follow from us shortly.

Also, we have contracted with MARTY HAUGEN for our Annual September Gathering on Sunday, September 21st, 2008 at Mary Our Queen in Southington. Marty will present a WORKSHOP from 1:30 to 5 Sunday afternoon, followed by an evening CONCERT at 7. Our dinner will be in between the events - 5:30 to 7 and more info, including pricing, will follow in the newsletter. This, too, promises to be an outstanding event....Marty follows our recent September Gathering presenters Gregory Norbet, Dan Schutte, and Paul Tate. PLAN TO BE THERE!

So please feel free to let me know via email if you have any questions.

We are all looking forward to this exciting series of events brought to you by your Hartford, NPM Chapter!

Thanks and PEACE,

Cornell Bialicki Coordinator for Planning Hartford, CT Chapter, NPM Cornellski@aol.com 203-393-3459

NPM National Convention
Indianapolis, Indiana
July 9 - 13, 2007

Click Here for Complete Convention Information