Music in Worship
St. Xavier Church is home to a vibrant music program with a rich history of musical excellence. Rooted in the Roman Catholic Church’s centuries-old tradition of cultivating exceptional sacred music, the Music Ministry seeks to uplift the worship experience for all who visit St. Xavier and to support the active participation of our congregation by providing spiritual inspiration and excellent musical leadership.
Our accomplished team of three staff organists and pianists, ten staff singers, eight staff instrumentalists, and 20 dedicated volunteer singers is led by Trevor Kroeger, Director of Music, and Katherine Jennings, Associate Director of Music. St. Xavier is home to two choral ensembles: the St. Xavier Choir, comprising 30 volunteer and professional singers, and the St. Xavier Schola, a professional vocal ensemble. Our musicians can be heard at the Saturday 4:00 PM Mass; the Sunday 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, and 5:00 PM Masses; and at Masses and liturgical services on major feast days.
The work of our music ministry would not be possible without the generous support of our parishioners. If you would like to make a donation to the Music Ministry, we invite you to contribute online to the St. Xavier Church Sacred Arts Fund by clicking here. To donate by check, contact Lisa Durr at ldurr@stxchurch.org or (513) 721-4045 ext. 1005.
Ensembles
St. Xavier Choir
The St. Xavier Choir, an ensemble of 20 volunteer singers and 10 professional section leaders, provides musical leadership at the 10:30 AM Mass each Sunday from September through May, as well as at the Jesuit Works, Christmas Midnight, Holy Thursday, and Easter Vigil Masses. The Choir is directed by Music Director Trevor Kroeger and accompanied by Associate Organist Ethan Mellema. The Choir performs uplifting choral motets and anthems in a variety of musical styles, largely from the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as repertoire from the Classical and Romantic eras of Western choral music.
Members
- Soprano: Caitlyn Eccles, Molly Federle, Maren Hrivnak, Erin Keesy, Mary Preston, Teresa Tran, Mary Vangeloff
- Alto: Gloria Duncan, Valeria Estrada, Katherine Jennings, Cooper Johnson, Susan Neill
- Tenor: Joseph Brossart, Paul Dieterlen, Howard Francis, Jay Kuhlman, Eric Riedel, David Skiff, Maxwell Trombley
- Bass: Even Brock, Christopher Budo, Larry Busse, Mark Hockenberry, Jay Joyce, Rupert Peacock, Ty Scott
Join the Choir
The St. Xavier Choir invites those who love to sing and work in a group to join its welcoming, joy-filled community. The Choir rehearses each week on Thursday evenings, from September through May, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the Parish Center. While auditions are not required for volunteer singers, all members must be able to read music, match pitch, and have a strong sense of beat and rhythm to be successful and enjoy the experience. If you are interested in joining the Choir, please email Music Director Trevor Kroeger at tkroeger@stxchurch.org.
St. Xavier Schola
The St. Xavier Schola, an auditioned vocal ensemble of ten professional singers, provides musical leadership at the 9:00 AM Mass each Sunday from September through May, as well as at the Christmas Eve Vigil Masses, the Good Friday service, and other liturgical celebrations. The Schola was formed in 2025 by Music Director Trevor Kroeger, who also directs the ensemble. The St. Xavier Schola, an auditioned vocal ensemble of ten professional singers, provides musical leadership at the 9:00 AM Mass each Sunday from September through May, as well as at the Christmas Eve Vigil Masses, the Good Friday service, and other liturgical celebrations. The Schola was formed in 2025 by Music Director Trevor Kroeger, who also directs the ensemble, and is accompanied by Associate Organist Ethan Mellema. The Schola sings a wide range of sacred Western choral repertoire spanning seven centuries, including chant, motets, anthems, Masses, and spirituals from the rich treasury of Roman Catholic choral music, as well as works from the Anglican and German Lutheran traditions.
Members
- Soprano: Maren Hrivnak, Katherine Jennings, Erin Keesy
- Alto: Valeria Estrada, Cooper Johnson
- Tenor: Eric Riedel, Maxwell Trombley
- Bass: Even Brock, Mark Hockenberry, Rupert Peacock
Auditions for Professional Singers
St. Xavier Schola singers also serve as section leaders in the St. Xavier Choir. While auditions for section leaders are held each summer for open positions only, singers with vocal training and choral experience are welcome to audition for a position on our Auxiliary Roster of substitute and supplemental singers at any time throughout the year. If you are interested in auditioning for a professional singing position at St. Xavier, please submit an Audition Application.
Collegium Cincinnati String Quartet
St. Xavier Church is proud to serve as a second home to our String Quartet-in-Residence, the Collegium Cincinnati String Quartet, which performs at the 4:00 PM Mass every Saturday from September through May. Click here to learn more about Collegium Cincinnati.
Members
Manami White, First Violin
Amy Kiradjieff, Second Violin
Leslie Dragan, Viola
Tom Guth, Violoncello
Music Staff
Director of Music and Organist
Associate Director of Music and Cantor
