Young Perth musicians busily practising – Orchestral Mass 2018

The Cathedral’s Music programme is gearing up for the 2018 Orchestral Mass at which the Cathedral will host over 80 young West Australian musicians as they gather from various schools and universities to form an orchestra and choir – and together with their teachers and the Cathedral Choir lead the music at the Solemn Sung Mass at 11am on Sunday 29^th July.

In this Year of Youth, this annual event takes on a special significance as it becomes a type of ‘tribute’ to the 10^th anniversary of World Youth Day 2008 (Sydney). The repertoire for the Mass will feature music especially written for WYD 2008 including the ‘Missa Benedictus Qui Venit’ written by George Palmer and the beautiful hymn ‘Our Lady of the Southern Cross’ written by Rev Geoffrey Abdullah.

Our soloists for the ‘Missa Benedictus Qui Venit’ are Joshua Adams (the Cathedral’s Principal Cantor) and Emma Oorschot (Cathedral Cantor).

Emma says that: ‘I’m very excited to be a part of the Orchestral Mass, especially singing the World Youth Day Mass ten years on from when it was originally performed. I feel honoured to be able to perform with so many talented musicians and use our God-given gifts to bring joy and celebrate our faith together’.

Joshua travelled to World Youth Day in 2008 as an eleven-year-old treble with the Cathedral Choir and sang in the 300 strong massed choir for the Papal services. Joshua remembers that time: ‘Despite it being very cold, it was a really special thing to be involved in liturgy on such a massive scale. It was also the first time I traveled anywhere for music so I was quite excited. At the time I didn’t know I’d later be studying music at tertiary level – I’ve actually traveled to every other Australian major city for music since then !!’

The Orchestral Mass takes place on Sunday 29^th July as part of the 11am Mass.

For details, please contact the Cathedral’s Director of Music, Jacinta Jakovcevic, at music.cathedral@perthcatholic.org.au