Music Ministry

Members from each of Immaculate Conceptions' Music Ministries offer information and valuable insight to their ministry.  For questions about music ministry, please contact the parish office at 417-887-0600.

TRADITIONAL CHOIR
The Immaculate Conception Traditional Choir sings at the Sunday 9:00 a.m. Mass. This choir sings traditional sacred music and hymns.   Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., and 8:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings.  Traditional Choir sings for Holy Days, Christmas, Holy Week and Easter.

BELL CHOIR
Rehearses 5:30-6:30p.m. Mondays, and plays for one Mass a month.

CONTEMPORARY CHOIR
Immaculate Conception is blessed to have such an abundance of talent that enables its parishioners to enjoy various musical styles that enhance the liturgy and worship at Mass. With the Contemporary Choir being less traditional and focusing on music with more modern rhythm and structure, one might think that it would attract younger singers and musicians. While it is true that we have our share of youth involved, the Contemporary Choir has singers who are 60 (ish) as well. The repertoire of the Contemporary Choir pulls from songs written in the 70s by various musicians to those written by more current composers such as Matt Maher that have attracted the attention of today’s young people. The only requirement to belong to the Contemporary Choir is to have some musical ability, show up for Mass, show up for practice, and show up with a heart ready to praise God. For questions about the choir, please contact Mark Ellman at 417- 886-6497

CANTORS
Many of our masses are led by a cantor. The responsibility of the cantor is to lead the hymns, mass responses and acclamations, and the psalm and we strive to do this in a way that is reverent and inviting to the congregation, encouraging their participation.

Each week, the cantors scheduled for the weekend masses receive a music menu from Jessie which shows what hymns and mass responses will be sung. The cantors have time to practice at home and there might be time to rehearse some music before mass. You never know when Jessie will find a new hymn so it is wise to have looked this over before mass! In addition to the weekly masses, cantors are asked to sing at funerals and weddings and occasionally at other special masses.

In the liturgy, music is prayer. As a music minister, the cantor shares in that prayer and helps the congregation express in song its own prayer. It is a special way to participate in the mass. We are grateful for this gift that God has given to us and the courage to share it.