St. Anthony’s Adult Choir
The Choir of St. Anthony’s is regarded as one of the preeminent choral programs in the Archdiocese of Las Vegas for its embrace of the Church’s 2000 year music tradition and commitment to musical excellence. Following in the choral tradition of the Sistine Chapel Choir and English Choral Tradition, such as King’s College, the Choir of St. Anthony’s frequently collaborates with its Children’s Choir to explore an even wider range of music. Choristers are regularly invited to participate in archdiocesan liturgies ranging from episcopal, presbyteral, and diaconate ordinations to Masses celebrated by the Papal Nuncio.
Schedule
Schedule Disclaimer
The Choir of St. Anthony’s rehearsal, liturgy, and concert schedule is posted below. As always, this is subject to change based on the specific pastoral needs of the local parish, the Archdiocese of Las Vegas, and the overall Church. While liturgies such as Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, and Easter are known, special pastoral considerations (e.g., the death of the Roman Pontiff, natural disasters, etc.) may precipitate necessary changes.
As of June 2025, His Excellency, Most Rev. George Leo Thomas, Ph.D., has not issued the 2026 Archdiocesan Confirmation Schedule. As such, dates in May 2026 are sure to change.
NOVEMBER 2025 UPDATE: His Excellency, Most Rev. George Leo Thomas, Ph.D., has promulgated Confirmation dates. St. Anthony of Padua will celebrate Confirmation at 4 PM on Sunday, April 26, 2026.
Schedule at a Glance
2025-2026 Concerts
The Month of the Rosary: Marian Canticles, Songs, Hymns, and More
- Saturday, October 25, 2025
- 6 PM
- St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church
- 6350 North Fort Apache Road, Las Vegas, NV 89149
Night of Choirs
- Friday, December 5, 2025
- Time and location are TBD in conjunction with other parishes/faith communities
Christmas Eve Concert
- Wednesday, December 24, 2025
- 3:15 PM
- St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church
- 6350 North Fort Apache Road, Las Vegas, NV 89149
Mandatory Voice Placement
Everyone new or returning to the Choir of St. Anthony’s will need to participate in a mandatory Voice Placement in the Fall 2025. This voice placement is to properly place voice parts by pitch-matching and to assess the ability to maintain a consistent beat necessary to lead an assembly of 1000+ in sung prayer.
This is not an audition, but merely a way to evaluate one’s accomplishments, determine necessary areas of improvement, and grow together as a choir.
2025-2026 General Anthems
Alleluia from Palestrina’s Missa Super UT RE MIFA SOLLA
Adoramus te, Christe
Text: St. Francis of Assisi (1181/2-1226); Music: Francesco Rosselli (c.1510 – c.1577)
As the Bridegroom to His Chosen
Text: John Tauler (1300-1361); Music: John Rutter (b. 1945)
The Choir of St. Anthony’s
The Choir of St. Anthony’s is open to those in 9th grade and beyond who demonstrate a genuine interest and possess an understanding of serving the parish through the gift of music. This handbook has been developed to provide basic information on the program to facilitate a smooth and positive experience for all, including choristers, directors, and clergy.
Attendance. Participating in a musical ensemble is no different from participating on a sports team. Each member brings something of value to the table. Each member is counted on to be engaged and present in rehearsals, Masses, and other events. Please do your best to be at every rehearsal. The success of the entire musical ensemble depends on everyone’s full commitment. We understand that the world is crazy and your family is pulled in many different directions, but we firmly believe that faith must come first. Please communicate with us.
Choir practices are held on Monday evenings. Unfortunately, if you cannot regularly commit to Monday evening practices, you will not be able to participate in the parish choir.
Drinks. Remaining hydrated, especially in the summer and winter, is crucial for maintaining healthy singing. Please ensure you are properly hydrated on the days leading up to rehearsals, Masses, and performances.
Snacks. Eating while singing can have deadly consequences. Candy, chewing gum, and other foods/candies are strictly prohibited at rehearsals. Occasionally, situations such as Halloween, Christmas, Easter, and birthdays present themselves as good times to snack after rehearsal time is completed.
Food Allergies. Please inform the choir directors if you have a food allergy or other dietary concerns.
Dress Code. All staff, children, and parents are expected to dress in commonly accepted church-appropriate attire at all times, including weekly rehearsals. Until the parish can acquire traditional choir robes, all are asked to dress in their Sunday best for Masses and concerts. Men are asked to wear button-down collared shirts with a necktie (please, no ties that light up or make sounds) and pants with a belt. Women are asked to wear church-appropriate dresses or skirts. At rehearsals, church-appropriate casual clothing is permissible.
Mass Warm-up. Call times for Masses will be provided. The call time is typically 30-45 minutes before Mass. For weeknight Masses, understanding time constraints during rush hour, the call time is typically 15-30 minutes before Mass. The warm-up time is crucial for singing your best. During this time, choristers can calm their nerves, enter into prayer, and spiritually prepare themselves for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. If members come late (for any reason), it makes everyone nervous and confused. These feelings of nervousness and confusion are typically amplified by chronic tardiness. We will head to the Sanctuary ten minutes before Mass gets settled in our seats and then offer a musical prelude (depending on the Liturgical season). If you are not seated by the “last call” before Mass, you will not be permitted to sing in the choir for that liturgy.
Preparation before Mass/Concert. Just like with rehearsals, choristers should arrive well-hydrated before Mass. Medical research indicates that this hydration needs to occur several days, not several hours, before a performance. Choristers are not to leave Mass for drinks or the bathroom except in extreme bathroom emergencies. Simply put, this disrupts the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and distracts all. Please use the bathroom when you arrive.
Notice Regarding Background Checks and Onboarding. All regular adult volunteers must undergo fingerprinting with the Archdiocese of Las Vegas and complete Catholic Mutual Group’s online youth protection training. Fingerprinting and youth protection training with other organizations does not satisfy archdiocesan policies and procedures. This is a non-negotiable requirement.
All regular adult volunteers agree to adhere strictly to all archdiocesan policies and guidelines. All adult volunteers and staff members undergo monthly background checks through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This is for the safety and well-being of all children and adults! Please be advised that lead time is often six to eight weeks, depending on the time of year.
Ministry v. Performance. You are participating in something much more important than a musical performance. During most of the Mass, the choir leads the entire assembly, often people with no desire to sing, in sung prayer through chant, hymnody, and acclamations. Your participation in the choir is meant to build your faith and knowledge of Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, help you learn what it means to be a Roman Catholic, and engage in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass while using music as the catalyst for delivery.
Music Selections. St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church is committed to following the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. Contrary to popular belief, Sacrosanctum Concilium, the preeminent Church document promulgated with Vatican II, allowed and encouraged the use of chant, organ, or Latin. The opposite is true. It reaffirmed the use of chant, organ, and Latin within the context of the Novus Ordo Mass.
Unlike the model currently employed by other parishes, this choir aims to provide a more comprehensive and well-rounded musical experience that draws on the Church’s rich, two-thousand-year-old musical tradition, rather than just the music of the last forty years.
Practice at Home. Our music can be easily found on YouTube and other popular streaming platforms. The Catholic Mass regularly employs words derived from Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Aramaic, and early and Middle English.
