Preview of 'An Evening with Rory Cooney'

Noted church music composer Rory Cooney will be presenting a concert at the September gathering of the local Hartford chapter of National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM.) Mr. Cooney, along with his wife Terry Donohoo and Gary Daigle, tour the world presenting workshops and concerts. Their goal is to share their faith through music, trying to help people understand the links between liturgy and life. Rory Cooney is an accomplished composer, skilled liturgist and parish music director. His music expresses a deep reverence for the text as well as a lively concern for the practical needs of the parish. He has published several recordings and his compositions have appeared in Glory & Praise, Breaking Bread and Music Issue. After 11 years serving as director of liturgy and music at St. Jerome Catholic Community in Phoenix, he is currently the parish music director at St. Anne’s Church in Barrington, Illinois.

I have attended several of these concerts sponsored by the Hartford chapter and in the past "concert" does not quite match the event. The composers that I have seen have provided participants with printed sheet music for their compositions, both old and new, and the audience becomes the choir backing them up. I heard lots of new music with Tom Kendzia, a composer that I have listened to on vinyl and have long admired. I sang some of my favorite contemporary pieces with the very talented Paul Tate and Deanna Light in 2005. I also fondly remember singing in four-part harmony with the people around me with Dan Schutte in 2006. The dinners are always delicious and a great chance to network, but the musical ending is definitely the highlight for me. I always walk away with an autograph.

This year's gathering will be held at Holy Angels Church on Main St. in South Meriden on Sunday, September 9, 2012 and begins with prayer and dinner at 5:00 pm. It is often beneficial to come together with other church musicians to pray, sing and socialize. It is a time to share ideas and stories and find out what others may be doing in their parish.

If you would like to attend the dinner, send a check for $30 made out to NPM Hartford Chapter to Jean Degan, St. Joseph Church, 149 Goodwin St., Bristol, CT 06010. This amount includes your NPM local dues, dinner and the concert. No tickets will be sent but your name will be put on a list of paid registrants. No walk-ins will be allowed to attend the dinner.  If you would like to attend the concert only, $10 may be paid at the door. For an additional $10, you will receive local NPM Chapter membership...a $5 savings. All are welcome to attend!

For more information contact Ms. Degan at 860 543-3638 or by e-mail at jeanmus2@gmail.com.

The next event is scheduled for Sunday, November 18, 2012 at 4:00 pm at St. Joseph Church (33 Queen St.) in Bristol. This church will host the St. Cecilia Sing. Attendees will be one of thousands of voices around the world joining together to pay tribute to the patron saint of music, St. Cecilia. This event will be a hymn sing with prayer and scripture reading. No advanced preparation is needed. Many of Rory Cooney's hymn settings will be used, as well as other popular hymn tunes.