Covington Cathedral Bishop's Choir

Covington Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption
Bishop's Choir

In performance
Chiesa S. Ignazio
Church of St. Ignatius
Rome, Italy ~ November, 2001 Choir Pilgrimage

The Covington Cathedral Bishop's Choir is a group of all-volunteer singers, which provides choral music for Sunday morning liturgy at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, as well as major feast days and concert dates. Until 1973, the Bishop's choir consisted of boys and men, at which time a transition to women and men occurred. A number of choir members grew up singing in the Cathedral as youthful choristers while attending St. Mary's School, LaSalette Academy, Covington Latin School, and surrounding area elementary schools. The choir's vast repertory includes virtually every sacred music style from Gregorian Chant (7th Century AD) to the present. Since 1986, the choir has completed five highly successful tours as ambassadors of sacred music beyond the USA. Included on this extensive itinerary are: St. Peter's Basilica and St. Ignatius in Rome, the Duomo of Florence, Italy; the Cathedrals of Notre Dame de Paris and Chartres, France; Westminster (London) and Canterbury, England; the Frauenkirche and Michaelskirche, Munich, Germany; Notre Dame du Cap and St. Anne de Beaupre, Quebec. Also visited are numerous centers of worship in Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Great Britain and Ireland.

"A Choral unit can be many things: professional singers hired for recordings or concert tours;
graduate students in college music departments; or vocalists paid to perform in a variety of Cathedral and Church choir settings.
On the other hand, that ensemble may consist of competent singers who - without financial recompense -
donate their talent, time, and energy to enhance liturgies by their musical efforts.
At the Cathedral, our choir is of the latter variety: a group of women and men
coming from four area counties week after week, year after year (some, decade after decade)
to minister music at the Cathedral.
The dedication and loyalty of such a group of people is a blessing to any choral conductor."

Dr. Robert J. Schaffer Cathedral Basilica Director of Music (1949 to present)

Available on Compact Disc

Cick Image for Playlist

The Bishop's Choir ~ Music for a Celestial City

Timeless selections of sacred choral music sung by the
Cathedral Basilica Bishop's Choir, under the baton of Dr. Robert J. Schaffer.
Free improvisations are also heard on the 65-rank x 4-manual 1982 Aultz-Kersting Organ.

Unique archival documentation of the Cathedral Basilica's
acoustic properties prior to the renovation of 2001.

"From the dulcet chanting of the Ave Maria to the exquisite harmonies of the Cantate Domino
to the cascading and tumultuous sounds of the pipe organ, and everything in between,
this collection has something for every aficionado of classical sacred music.
Expect to hear little else so glorious this side of heaven."
+ Robert W. Muench Ninth Bishop of Covington, Kentucky

To order:
send $16.00 (ppd) to
The Bishop's Choir
P.O. Box 15633
Covington, KY (USA) 41015

Please make your check or money order payable to:
"Schwab Organ Fund"

Also available at the Cathedral Gift Shop
1115 Madison Ave, Covington, KY ~ 859-291-7448

More to come about the Bishop's Choir, please check back soon.

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