Beautiful music in honor of Our Lady

St. Joseph College Seminary releases album in memory of music director Tom Savoy

ANNIE FERGUSON arferguson@charlottediocese.org

MOUNT HOLLY — One of Tom Savoy’s last acts of love this side of heaven was the recording and mastering of “Maria Mater Nostra: Music in Honor of Our Lady.”

The late music director or “magister capellae” of St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly produced the album featuring the voices of the St. Joseph College Seminary Schola and the Daughters of the Virgin Mother, whom he so faithfully led in recent years, developing their vocal abilities and knowledge of sacred music.

Savoy completed the recording in August 2022 and began mastering the tracks, finishing production just before his sudden passing on Oct. 24, 2022.

The seminary released the album in February 2023, and access to the tracks is free on streaming services. However, donations may be made to St. Joseph College Seminary’s music program.

The 14 Marian chants selected for the album are inspired by Savoy’s love for Our Lady.

“Tom was devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He loved to pray the Angelus at work and to take a rosary walk with his wife, Deborah,” said Fredrik Akerblom, director of advancement at St. Joseph College Seminary.

Album tracks include “Ave Maria,” “Ave Maris Stella,” “Litany of Loreto,” “Salve Regina,” “Ave Verum Corpus” and “Regina Caeli.” The image chosen for the album cover is known as the “Advocata” and can be found in a small chapel in the Church of Santa Maria del Rosario in Rome.

“Tom loved that image of Mary, our advocate before her Son,” Akerblom noted.

Devout, joyful and fun to be around, Savoy brought more than 50 years of experience in sacred music to his role at St. Joseph College Seminary, having played his first Mass at just 12 years old.

A native of Albany, New York, he spent much of his career in sacred music there until he moved to Charlotte in 2012 and took a music director position at St. Thomas

Aquinas Parish. He started the Carolina Catholic Chorale and is known for leaving an indelible mark on the music program at St. Joseph College Seminary and in the hearts of the young men in formation there.

“Tom’s desire was that the music program at the seminary would form the men in such a way that when they became priests, they would know what to ask from their musicians and what sacred music to use in their parishes,” Akerblom said.

Explaining Savoy’s broader vision for the program, he added, “Ultimately, Tom wanted us to build a Catholic culture that was not disposable. He was convinced that the sacred music of the Church is eternal, and that the traditional music of the Church, whether it is plainchant or polyphony, is an integral part of the Holy Mass and the liturgical life of the Church. He helped design and establish our program on those convictions.”

Taking the lead as “magister capellae” going forward is Andrew Mahon. Mahon has decades of performing and teaching experience and has served as a director of music and liturgy in the Diocese of St. Cloud, Minnesota, overseeing the liturgical direction for eight parishes. Mahon has also worked as a professional singer all over the world, and lived in the United Kingdom for 12 years, working mostly as a liturgical musician. His area of expertise centers around sacred choral music and chant.

“Our rector, Father Matthew Kauth, and all the members of his team recognize Tom Savoy’s work to make sacred music in the Catholic tradition available to everyone in our diocese,” Akerblom said. “His legacy lives on in our seminarians and priests. We are excited to see Andrew Mahon carry the work forward and ask for everyone’s prayers for all involved in the formation of our future priests.”

Listen and show your support

Listeners can access the album by searching for “Maria Mater Nostra Music in Honor of Our Lady” or “St. Joseph College Seminary Schola” on their preferred music streaming platform. Help support St. Joseph College Seminary’s music program at www.stjcs.org/donation by selecting “Music Program” in the “My Donation Is For” field. Fredrik Akerblom can be reached at fakerblom@stjcs.org or 704-302-6386.