In the alto section, a bright red T-shirt is emblazoned with the title of the venerable hymn How Can I Keep From Singing. It has become somewhat of a credo for this dedicated group. Most are old-timers, but some are new. From a variety of occupational backgrounds like health care, law, education, business, and the arts, they range in age from 15 to 90. Several have prior musical experience.
In the next few hours, they’ll run through the psalm, Mass parts and Preparation and Communion selections. Laughter and chatter erupt between songs, but Kienzler keeps things on task. She’s teaching them to be a good choir. In a church choir, that’s not just about what meets the ear. Pat Foster who sings bass, puts it best when he says that one of the things he’s learned as a 14-year veteran of the choir is “the difference between sung prayer and performance.”
This is a music ministry first and foremost, and Kienzler, who has been directing the group since 2010, knows how to bring out the prayerful side of her singers. She urges them to really think about what they are singing. “Tell me the story,” she gently coaxes, imploring them to make the message as important as the music, so that listeners will connect more deeply with God.
“When music is allowed to minister to hearts, God’s presence becomes real,” she reflects.
Kienzler came to the parish from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Vacaville, Calif., where she was music director for six years, and where she converted to Catholicism from a Protestant denomination. She holds a doctorate in vocal performance (ABD) from the University of Illinois. A native of Springfield, she has also been an adjunct professor of vocal music at Illinois Wesleyan and Millikin universities. She competed with three other highly qualified applicants for the coveted position and won the job, as well as the hearts of the choir members.
“Jody is such a blessing to our parish” says Pat Clarida, an alto who has been in the choir on and off for 30 years, and whose paternal grandfather was one of the founding parishioners of Blessed Sacrament.
Others describe Kienzler as talented, loving, nurturing, inspiring, fun-loving, and a great motivator.
In addition to leading the adult Chorale and Festival choirs, Kienzler also directs four youth choirs, conducts a small orchestra ensemble, trains cantors, and prepares music for funerals, weddings, sacraments, holy days, and school liturgy classes. She playfully describes her knack for selecting just the right music as “Holy Spirit inspiration.”
“Jody is extremely knowledgeable and insightful when it comes to selecting the music,” says Father Jeffery Grant, pastor of Blessed Sacrament.
When the choir is in sync, it is euphoric; a rich alchemy of tonal blending, exacting dynamics, precise entrances and cut-offs and collective voices, ears, hearts and souls, all actively engaged. Such stirring moments have led to tears, both in the choir room and in the pews.
“A few days after a longtime parishioner died, his family came to Mass and the choir sang His Eye is On the Sparrow. The song was especially moving to the grieving family because their loved one was a nature lover who had an affinity for wild birds. They took it as a sign that he was with them,” says Kienzler.
Rehearsals are a big commitment for many of the participants who have families and demanding jobs, but the returns are plentiful. Health administrator Marge Oblinger finds a sense of spiritual growth, self-actualization and inner peace; Fred Wassell, a former educator and organist, enjoys the fellowship of “an amazing group of friendly people who all have the utmost respect for one another”; and Clarida says, “I love our prayerful community and the spiritual connection with fellow parishioners. We also have so much fun together!”
In addition to their weekly offerings, the choir has presented several concerts over the past four years featuring complex works such as Bach’s Magnificat and Vivaldi’s Gloria. In 2012, choir members accompanied Kienzler and Father Grant to Italy, where they sang at a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. It was an experience that Pat Foster will not soon forget.
“Surrounded by all the grand trappings of temporal and ecclesial authority, I began to wonder what it means to be a Catholic. As Mass time neared, the seats filled with worshipful Catholics from all over the world, and I was moved by their faith in Christ, and by our shared desire to live out the Gospel message in our respective countries. Sharing sung music with the Roman priest and Father Jeff Grant, and with all these fellow Roman Catholics turned out to be a singularly powerful experience,” says Foster.
Father Grant recognizes that power. “For me, the importance of a choir is to enhance the liturgy and to help us enter more deeply into the mystery of our faith. Our choir certainly helps us do that,” he says.
Blessed Sacrament’s Chorale welcomes new members. For more information, call music director, Jody Kienzler at (217) 528-7521
Erin Foley began her writing career working in the film and television industry in Los Angeles. She has been a professional writer for almost 30 years, and has enjoyed singing in choirs since childhood.