In his Apostolic Letter "Patris corde" ("With a Father's Heart"),
Pope Francis has proclaimed a Year of St. Joseph from Dec. 8, 2020, to Dec. 8, 2021.
Act of Consecration -- Entrustment of the Diocese of Charleston to St. Joseph, the Universal Patron of the Church
In his Apostolic Letter "Patris corde" ("With a Father's Heart"),
Pope Francis has proclaimed a Year of St. Joseph from Dec. 8, 2020, to Dec. 8, 2021.
Act of Consecration -- Entrustment of the Diocese of Charleston to St. Joseph, the Universal Patron of the Church
Music Ministry
Welcome to St. Joseph’s Music Ministry
The singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs was practiced by the disciples of Christ and is followers. Since that time, sacred music has always been an integral part of the Catholic liturgy.
St. Joseph Parish has a rich history of sacred music for more than 70 years beginning with an all-male schola cantorum in 1949, which Schola was enriched with the beauty of women’s voices in 1976. We strive to foster communal sung prayer and glorify God through the rich history of sacred chant, polyphony, hymnody with inspiring organ support, and choral, organ and instrumental literature of the highest possible caliber.
The Adult Choir at St. Joseph Catholic Church is a vibrant and dedicated ensemble of singers who help lead music for parish worship throughout the year. Our repertoire is broad and rewarding, ranging from early sacred works and Renaissance polyphony to English choral traditions, classic hymnody, modern choral writing, and newly composed sacred music.
The Adult Choir rehearses weekly on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in Ursuline Hall on the second floor of the Ministries & Administration Building. The choir regularly sings for the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass from September through the Feast of Corpus Christi in late spring or early summer. The choir also provides music for major parish celebrations including Confirmation, Ordinations, All Souls, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, and Christmas Eve.
Singers with prior choral experience are encouraged to join us. Whether you are new to St. Joseph or have been part of the parish for years, the Adult Choir offers a meaningful opportunity to serve, grow musically, and be part of a joyful and committed community.
ADULT CHOIR
St. Joseph Catholic Church offers paid Choral Scholar positions for skilled singers who wish to serve the parish through excellent liturgical music, strong ensemble leadership, and regular cantoring. Choral Scholars are an essential part of the music ministry, supporting the Adult Choir, leading congregational singing, and helping provide consistent musical leadership across parish liturgies.
Choral Scholars serve as section leaders and sing for the Sunday 10:30 AM and 12:15 PM Masses throughout the choir season, which typically runs from late August through the Feast of Corpus Christi in late spring or early summer. Scholars may also cantor for other weekend Masses, Holy Days, weddings, funerals, and special parish celebrations according to their availability.
This program is designed for singers with strong musicianship, reliable sight-reading ability, healthy vocal technique, and a willingness to lead with professionalism and flexibility. Choral Scholars sing a wide range of repertoire, including chant, hymnody, Renaissance polyphony, English choral works, classical sacred literature, and contemporary choral music.
Compensation is offered on a very competitive hourly scale for the Columbia area. Additional paid opportunities may also be available, including wedding cantoring, funeral cantoring, or periodic vocal coaching or instruction for members of Bel Canto, the parish’s children’s choir.
Positions are filled on a rolling basis as openings become available. Singers interested in joining the Choral Scholar Program are encouraged to contact the Director of Music for more information.
CHORAL SCHOLAR PROGRAM
CHILDREN'S CHOIRS
The Children’s Choir Program at St. Joseph Catholic Church gives young singers the opportunity to grow in musicianship, confidence, faith, and service through the beauty of choral singing. Our children’s choirs help lead music for select parish liturgies and special events throughout the school year, while also learning the foundations of healthy singing, music reading, ensemble skills, and liturgical participation.
St. Joseph currently offers two children’s choir opportunities: Piccoli Cantori and Bel Canto.
PICCOLI CANTORI
Piccoli Cantori, Italian for “Little Singers,” is our introductory children’s choir for students in 1st and 2nd grade. This ensemble is open to students of St. Joseph School and home school groups that serve as a joyful first step into choral singing and parish music ministry.
In Piccoli Cantori, students learn the basics of singing together, following a conductor, using healthy vocal habits, and participating reverently in the music of the Church. The choir sings for select Sunday Masses throughout the year, as well as occasional special liturgies and seasonal events, including Christmas and Easter celebrations as scheduled.
Piccoli Cantori typically rehearses on Tuesday afternoons from 3:00 to 4:10 PM during the school year, beginning in late August. A yearly calendar of rehearsals and singing dates is provided to families.
No audition is required for Piccoli Cantori. Students simply need enthusiasm, a willingness to learn, and the ability to participate respectfully in rehearsal.
BEL CANTO
Bel Canto is the parish’s auditioned children’s choir for students in 3rd through 6th grade. This ensemble is designed for students who are ready for a more advanced choral experience, including more challenging music, higher expectations for rehearsal focus, and a greater level of commitment to parish liturgies and performances.
Bel Canto sings a wide variety of sacred choral music and helps provide musical leadership for select Sunday Masses, Christmas and Easter liturgies, and other special parish celebrations throughout the year. Students in this choir continue developing healthy vocal technique, music reading skills, ensemble awareness, diction, phrasing, and confidence as young musicians.
Bel Canto typically rehearses on Tuesday afternoons from 4:30 to 6:00 PM during the school year. This later rehearsal time allows participation from both St. Joseph School students and parish children who attend other schools.
Students interested in joining Bel Canto for the first time must complete a brief audition. The audition is designed to help determine readiness for the ensemble and may include simple vocal exercises, pitch matching, singing a familiar song, and a brief assessment of musical focus and maturity. Returning Bel Canto members do not need to re-audition each year, but families are asked to complete the annual choir contract and registration materials.
EXPECTATIONS AND REGISTRATION
Families participating in either children’s choir will receive a yearly calendar with rehearsal dates, Masses, performances, and special events at the beginning of the season. Because the choirs serve an important role in parish worship, consistent attendance at rehearsals and scheduled singing dates is expected.
Parents interested in registering a child for Piccoli Cantori or scheduling an audition for Bel Canto are invited to complete the interest form below. After submitting the form, families will be contacted with additional information about registration, auditions, rehearsal schedules, and next steps.
INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING
MUSIC MINSTRY?
Interested in supporting our music ministry? Your generosity
helps provide beautiful music for Masses, liturgies, and
special celebrations throughout the year.
MEET THE STAFF
Worth M. Lewallen IV, Director of Music
Worth Lewallen serves as Director of Music at St. Joseph Catholic Church, where he oversees the parish’s music ministry, including the Adult Choir, Choral Scholars, Children’s Choirs, cantors, instrumentalists, and music for major liturgies throughout the year. His work at St. Joseph brings together choral excellence, strong liturgical leadership, careful organization, and a deep commitment to fostering meaningful musical participation within the parish community.
A native of Florence, South Carolina, Worth moved to Columbia in 2014 to pursue undergraduate studies in Music Education and Violin Performance at the University of South Carolina. He later continued graduate work in music, pedagogy, and administration, developing a broad musical background that includes ensemble leadership, vocal and instrumental pedagogy, curriculum design, and arts administration.
As a conductor and music educator, Worth has experience working with singers of all ages, from children’s choirs to adult ensembles. His choral work emphasizes healthy vocal production, musical literacy, expressive singing, stylistic versatility, and the development of confident, committed ensemble members.
Worth’s connection to St. Joseph is also deeply personal. After studying Irish Cultural Heritage at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, where he first encountered the Catholic faith in a serious way, he returned to Columbia and entered the Church through St. Joseph’s OCIA program. He was received into the Catholic Church at the 2019 Easter Vigil under the guidance of Msgr. Harris, Mrs. Nettie Taylor, and many others.
Worth is grateful to serve the parish that first welcomed him into the Catholic Church, and he considers his role as Director of Music both a professional calling and an opportunity to give back to the St. Joseph community through beauty, service, and excellent sacred music.
