Music Staff
The Resurrection Choir
Fr. Frank Phillips, C.R., Principal Music Director
Completed studies in Music Education from St. Louis University Studied music theory and composition with Dr. Robert Neidlinger, Music history with Rev. Francis Guenter, S.J. and Organ with Dr. Marie Kraemer. Received a Master’s of Divinity from St. Louis University and was ordained January 1977. Taught Music history, theory, choir and religious education at Weber High School for 11 years until stationed at St. John Cantius parish in 1988. During my tenure at St. John’s I began building the music program providing Gregorian Chant, Classical and Polyphonic music for regularly scheduled Masses and Devotions.
Cantate Domino Choir
Fr. Scott A. Haynes, S.J.C., Director
As an organ and choral scholar at Washington’s National Cathedral from 1994-98, Fr. Haynes studied under the tutelage of Dr. Douglas Major, Organist and Choirmaster. Fr. Haynes completed choral conducting studies at the University of Alabama under Dr. Sandra Willets, complimented by post-graduate studies with Dr. James Jordan at Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey. Having studied composition under Dr. Frederic Goosen, he won the American Society of Composers and Arrangers’ Raymond Hubbell Award for orchestral composition in 1992. Today, he actively composes liturgical music for the choirs of St. John Cantius. Ordained in 2007 for the Archdiocese of Chicago as a member of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, Fr. Haynes serves as Associate Pastor of St. John Cantius Church.
St. Cecilia Choir and Sine Nomine Ensemble
Daniel V. Robinson, Director
In addition to serving as one of the directors of the Sine Nomine and St. Ceclia Choirs at St. John Cantius, Daniel Robinson is music director of the Great Lakes Dredge and Philharmonic Society in Chicago. He has also guest-conducted the a cappella ensemble Bella Voce. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College and graduate degrees in music from Stanford University. He studied conducting with Robert Shaw, Clayton Krehbiel, John Ferris, Howard Swan, Weston Noble, and Richard Rosewall. He was founder and music director of Basically Bach. Previous church choir work includes stints with the Harvard University Choir, the Harvard University Summer Choir, the First Unitarian Church in Danvers, MA, and the Stanford Memorial Church Choir.
St. Gregory The Great Schola Cantorum
Joseph Urbaszewski, Director
Joseph F. Urbaszewski is a retired Architect and Civil Engineer, who has been involved at St. John Cantius since about 1988, serving in the capacity of chironomer of the Schola Cantorum of St. Gregory the Great at the pleasure of Fr. C. Frank Phillips, C.R.
In 1959-60, he taught Gregorian chant to the troops at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, while serving in the U.S. Army. He was an occasional substitute organist at St. John Cantius, St. Mary of the Angels, and some forty other churches, over the years. His brother, Gene Urbaszewski, strongly encouraged him to assist at St. John Cantius.
Mr. Urbaszewski’s initial policy was that all the gentlemen of the Schola, under the patronage of St. Gregory the Great, were required to learn, by doing, all the propers of the Mass, unabbreviated. The policy continues in force with the evolution of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius. The current blend of twenty plus members includes both laymen and religious.
The Schola presents Holy Scripture in a unisonic musical chant setting of the Mass, which in turn, encourages the faithful to pray. Very often, each member is asked, on a moment’s notice, to select the opening pitch, to intone, or to direct the Schola. As of this date, ten members are proven able to direct.
Not only does the Schola work to achieve melodic delivery, accuracy of pitch, and clarity of text, but more importantly, spiritual excellence.
Mr. Thomas Zeman, Assistant Director
Thomas Edward Zeman studied piano and music theory with Mildred Adaska and Ada Gregor. Afterwards he studied violin with George Metskas. At the Sherwood School of Music he studied piano under Leo Podolsky. While completing his high school studies he began coursework in music at Morton Junior College. At DePaul University he studied piano with Thaddeus Kozack, villing with David Moll, chamber music, orchestra and orchestral conducting with Paul Stassevitch, and composition with Donald Jenni and John Downey. He obtained the Bachelor of Music degree at DePaul with a major in composition and a minor in piano. At Indiana University in Bloomington he studied piano with Frederick Baldwin, and composition with Bernhard Heiden and Juan Orrego-Salas. He has studied organ with Arthur C. Becker, Sr. and Herdon Spillman. He holds the Master of Music degree from Indiana University with a major in composition and a minor in piano. He, furthermore, completed the coursework toward the Doctorate of Music degree with a major in composition and with minors in piano and theory. He has studied semiology and chironomy at the Gregorian Chant Institute at St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana. He performs in concerts and recitals as soloist and chamber musician.
He is vice president of the Chicago Camerata, and organization of several chamber music groups. As a member of the Chicago Camerata Trio he has performed on “Live from WFMT.” He has also performed on the Chicago Symphony Chamber Music Series. With the Betty Haag Academy of Music, he plays piano for student and guest violin soloists and for the violin ensemble, for local concerts and on tour. At St. John Cantius Church he frequently plays organ as soloist and accompanist with the Sine Nomine Ensemble and the Resurrection Choir and Orchestra.
In order to expand both classicism and romanticism, he has developed a highly ordered system of composition, employing a large number of pitches related through the ratios of integers. He has composed solo works, orchestral works, choral works and chamber works. He believes music, whether it be for concert or for worship, should have a positive influence on the listener. His specific purpose in life is to compose music that will help people better to appreciate true peace, joy and the glory of God.
Chorus Innocentium Sanctorum
Br. Chad McCoy, S.J.C. Director
Br. Chad McCoy, S.J.C., a 2001 graduate of Magdalen College, Warner, New Hampshire, directs the Choir of the Holy Innocents. Br. Chad sees the youth choir program as an excellent opportunity to catechize the young people of St. John Cantius Church in liturgy and spirituality. After music studies at Roosevelt University, Br. Chad has implemented an annual summer choir camp that has introduced the members of the Holy Innocents Choir to the basics of music theory, sight-singing, music history and musicianship.