Many visitors to the Church of Saint Agnes on a Sunday morning think of the Twin Cities Catholic Chorale as an organization working to preserve the treasury of sacred music for orchestra and full choir.  For over three decades, the Chorale has regaled listeners with performances of the greatest orchestral Masses of the eighteenth and nineteenth century.

Founded by its original director, the late Monsignor Richard Schuler, the Chorale has performed a 10 a.m. High Mass (in Latin) since 1974.  Instrumentalists participating in the accompanying orchestra are professional musicians from the Minneapolis and Saint Paul area, including members of the Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Opera.  The ensemble is now conducted by Dr. Robert L. Peterson.

Polyphonic a capella music is contributed by the Saint Agnes Chamber Choir (directed by Donna May) and Gregorian chant is sung by the Saint Agnes Schola Cantorum, directed by Paul LeVoir.   Organist for these services is Mary LeVoir.  And soloists this season are Patricia Kent (soprano), Jocelyn Kalajian (contralto), Adam Gedde (tenor) and Jon Nordstrom (bass).

The Chorale repertoire is impressive.  This season, the Chorale and orchestra will perform Masses by Haydn, Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Gounod, Dvorak, Cherubini, Rheinberger and Herzogenberg.

The Church of Saint Agnes is located at Dale Street and LaFond Avenue, just a few blocks west of the Minnesota State Capitol building.