Music Ministries

meet the Music director
Dr. Ezequiel Menendez

meet the Choirmaster
Meredith Neumann

Meredith Neumann is Choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in downtown Hartford, where she conducts the Schola Cantorum. She was formerly the Director of the Connecticut Children’s Chorus and conductor of the Hartt Camerata at the University of Hartford. She is a sought-after clinician and festival conductor, and her ensembles are known for their innovative approach to performance and their intense passion for music-making. A Connecticut native, Meredith holds a Masters in music education from The Hartt School, and has a decade of experience teaching middle school choir in both public and private schools. She is currently pursuing her DMA in choral conducting at the University of Connecticut, where she conducts the UConn Glee Club. In addition to her teaching and conducting appointments, she is an active performer in the Greater Hartford region. She is a founding member of the early music vocal ensemble Voce CONCITATO, specializing in the music of the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. Meredith is also a member of Voce, Connecticut’s premier professional choral ensemble.

The cathedral schola cantorum

The Cathedral Schola Cantorum was founded in 1999 by Archdiocesan Music Director and Organist, Dr. Ezequiel Menéndez, and is comprised of professional singers. The choir maintains a very high standard of musical excellence; many of the choristers are accomplished vocal soloists and music educators. Choirmaster, Ms. Meredith Neumann, leads this well respected choir. Previous Choirmasters include Dr. Edward Bolkovac and Dr. Jeffrey Douma. The choir’s repertoire encompasses the full range of Roman Catholic music, including plainchant, a cappella motets from the 16th through 20th centuries, music for chorus and orchestra, as well as newly commissioned works. The Cathedral Schola Cantorum performs frequently with the Soli Deo Gloria Orchestra, founded jointly by Dr. Menéndez and Dr. Bolkovac and featuring some of the area’s finest orchestral players. The Cathedral Schola Cantorum provides music for the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Liturgy and for numerous Archdiocesan events, many of which are broadcast by EWTN, WCCT, and ORTV/WJMJ Catholic Radio Station. In addition to its liturgical function, the Cathedral Schola Cantorum plays an active role in the concert life of the Hartford area, having appeared in concert with the New Haven and Hartford Symphony Orchestras. For an audition, please call the Office of Music Ministries at (860) 578-1433 or email:[email protected].

The Austin Organ

The Cathedral organ contains more than 8000 pipes and was designed by Austin Organs' Tonal Director, Richard Piper, and Frederick L. Mitchell, Vice-President. It enjoys ideal placement in its own loft high on the rear wall containing the Great, Positiv, and Pedal divisions, flanked by chambers containing the Swell, Choir, and Solo divisions. The largest case pipes (from the 32' Sub Principal) were installed in the gallery by cranes before the roof was completed! Orpha Ochse describes the instrument as "among the landmark instruments of its time" ("Austin Organs"). Its four-manual drawknob console also controls the Sanctuary Pitch division near the altar and the Blessed Sacrament Chapel Organ. This complete two-manual instrument has its own console, with a third manual controlling stop combinations on the Gallery Organ.

Organ Specifications view here.
Historic Austin Organ Photo Gallery here.
For more information, see our Austin Organ pamphlet here.