Jubilation Children’s Choir

Music has been an important part of spiritual worship since the Old Testament. The Bible describes the Lord using music to express His love, as we read in Zephaniah 3:17, “The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior, Who will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, Who will sing joyfully because of you.”

Here at St. Peter, the Jubilation Children’s Choir is a continuation of this heritage, giving students in fifth through eighth grades the opportunity to offer their voice talents in love and praise to the Lord.

Currently celebrating its 20th year, the choir was started by Monica Scholz, Choir Director and Parish Director of Music.

“We had a really outstanding group of junior high-age singers at the time,” Monica says. “I wanted to create something special for them.”

Steve Looten Jr., one of the original members of the Jubilation Choir, fondly recalls his experience.

“Jubilation was a great opportunity to practice the musical skills I learned as a youth within the church’s liturgy,” Steve says. “The choir got to engage with each service more, giving us a better understanding about the message and purpose of each Mass.”

The word “jubilation” is defined by MerriamWebster as both “an expression of great joy” and “an act of rejoicing.” The Jubilation Children’s Choir is thus aptly named.

“Every time we sing together, it’s an occasion,” Monica says.

Jubilation rehearses on Mondays during the school year from 3 to 3:45 p.m. in the parish music room. The choir sings once a month at the 9:30 a.m. Sunday Mass.

“Our congregation really enjoys hearing the students sing at Mass,” Monica says. “There is something multidimensional about all generations praying and singing together that creates a family dynamic that benefits us all. When the students sing at Mass, our attendance is way up! Families come to Mass together and invite their grandparents and other relatives to come along. What a great evangelization tool — music!”

In addition to evangelization and helping students to become more engaged in and aware of the dynamic of the liturgy, the choir is important to the life of the parish in other ways.

“It is vitally important for the future of not only the Music Ministry but also the parish, that we involve our children early in faith formation,” Monica says. “Music is a great way for them to practice stewardship of time and talent.

“Hopefully they will carry that stewardship into their childhood and adult years — an age group in which we often notice a drop-off in Mass attendance,” she adds. “Involvement in an activity that is rewarding and that they love will hopefully encourage them to practice their faith and continue those faith practices into adulthood.”

The Jubilation Children’s Choir is open to students from St. Peter School and Parish. If you would like more information, please contact Monica Scholz at m.scholz@cospq.org.

The Jubilation Children’s Choir

Monica Scholz