The St. Patrick’s Cathedral Choir, directed by Dr. Jennifer Pascual, is predominantly a liturgical choir, and the heart of the music program at North America’s most prominent Roman Catholic cathedral. 

Acclaimed former music directors include Pietro Yon and Charles Courboin. Established in its present form by John Grady, the Choir is made up largely of volunteer singers and a small professional group and prepares music from every era for many liturgies and other special events throughout the year. These include the 10:15am Mass each Sunday (from the first Sunday after Labor Day until the Solemnity of Corpus Christi), the annual A City Singing at Christmas and Irish Heritage concerts, and the nationally televised Midnight Mass for Christmas. 

In its liturgical role, the Choir has performed for many heads of state and the Secretary General of the United Nations, and with soloists such as Renée Fleming and Placido Domingo. In 1965, the choir had the distinct honor of singing for His Holiness, Pope Paul VI at St. Patrick’s Cathedral during the historic first Papal Visit ever to the United States. In 1979, the choir sang for His Holiness, Pope John Paul II at St. Patrick’s Cathedral as well as for Mass at Yankee Stadium. The Choir sang again for Pope John Paul II in October 1995 for Mass in Central Park and the recitation of the Rosary at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. During the April 2008 Pastoral Visit to New York by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, the choir sang for Masses at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Yankee Stadium and for an Ecumenical Prayer Service. They sang for Evening Prayer at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Mass at Madison Square Garden during the September 2015 Pastoral Visit to New York by His Holiness, Pope Francis.

With the founding of the Friends of Music under John-Michael Caprio, the choir expanded its concert activities and has performed with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Wroclaw Philharmonic, members of the Vienna Philharmonic on PBS, the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein, and at events for the Richard Tucker Music Foundation. The Choir has recorded several CDs and has been featured on the BBC’s popular “Songs of Praises” television series, Nippon Television, NBC’s “Today” show and ABC’s “Good Morning America.” 

In May 2008, the Choir had the distinguished honor of performing for President George W. Bush at the White House for the National Day of Prayer. 

In October 2010, the St. Patrick’s Cathedral Choir traveled to Rome and Vatican City as the only choir from the United States invited to participate in the IX Festivale Internazionale di Musica e Arte Sacra and also performed, once again, for Pope Benedict XVI.