Please contact Maria Balducci, Director of Music & Organist, if you are interested in becoming involved with the St. Joseph’s music program. (music@st-josephs.org)

“Indeed, through this form [sacred music], prayer is expressed in a more attractive way, the mystery of the Liturgy, with its hierarchical and community nature, is more openly shown, the unity of hearts is more profoundly achieved by the union of voices, minds are more easily raised to heavenly things by the beauty of the sacred rites, and the whole celebration more clearly prefigures that heavenly Liturgy which is enacted in the holy city of Jerusalem.” (Musicam Sacram, 1967)

Concert Series: 2025-2026

Coming soon: The date of the re-dedication concert for our newly restored Hook & Hastings Op. 1487, as well as a monthly organ concert series in 2026!

The St. Joseph’s Choir

The St. Joseph’s Choir sings for the Sunday 10:30am Masses. Rehearsals are Thursdays from 7:30pm-9pm. The music encompasses the entirety of the Church’s rich history of sacred music, from centuries-old a cappella Gregorian chant to Renaissance polyphony to new works by living composers.  We also have a women’s and men’s schola which sings monthly for the Sunday 8:30am Masses.  Consider joining if you have a background in music or singing, and are looking to find a wonderful, faithful community within the parish. (Contact: Maria Balducci, Director of Music: music@st-josephs.org)

The St. Joseph’s Choir after singing for the Rite of Election at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, spring 2025.

The SJCA: St. Joseph’s Chorus Angelorum (Children’s Choir)

In the fall of 2022, St. Joseph’s added a children’s choir to our sacred music program. The Chorus Angelorum- choir of angels- has a two-fold mission: first, to teach the children proper singing technique, chants, hymns, motets, and the Mass ordinary and propers; second, to be exposed to Gregorian chant notation and Latin pronunciation and translation. The Chorus Angelorum is a part of Pueri Cantores, the international student choral organization of the Catholic Church, and participates in their annual regional festival Mass that gathers hundreds of local young Catholic singers. Rehearsals are every other Thursday from 6:30pm-7:30pm. (Contact: Maria Balducci, Director of Music: music@st-josephs.org)

St. Joseph’s Chorus Angelorum at the at Pueri Cantores 2023 Mid-Atlantic Youth Choral Festival at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, March 4th.

The St. Joseph’s Pipe Organ

Hook & Hastings (Opus 1487, 1891)

Nave, Gallery, and Pipe Facade: Photograph by Len Levasseur. Taken November 2010.

FALL 2025 UPDATE

The historic Hook & Hastings Op. 1487, 1891 pipe organ is currently being reinstalled by the David E. Wallace & Co. LLC Pipe Organ Builders after receiving a full restoration. The organ was carefully dissambled in June 2024, and spent over a year in Maine before returning to St. Joseph’s in the fall of 2025. In addition to a full restoration, the hand-pumping mechanism bas been restored/recreated and a new 16’ Trombone in the style of Hook & Hastings has been added to the Pedal division. St. Joseph’s is very grateful to all who contributed to this $600K+ project, an important project to maintain such a treasured piece of the church’s history. Once the organ returns, an organ concert series will be offered in 2026 on the second Sunday of every month, for all to experience the sounds of this magnificent organ once again.

During the time of restoration, St. Joseph’s will be using a smaller Hook & Hastings (c. 1875), restored by Meloni & Farrier in 2021. This pipe organ features four manual stops (three divided) and one pedal stop.

Hook & Hastings Op. 1487 Specifications (Manuals, 58 notes; Pedal, 27 notes; 1, 577 pipes)

  • GREAT
  • 16 Open Diapason
  • 8 Open Diapason
  • 8 Doppel Flute
  • 4 Octave
  • 3 Twelfth
  • 2 Fifteeth
  • 1 1/3 Mixture III (174 pipes)
  • 8 Trumpet
  • SWELL (enclosed)
  • 16 Bourdon Bass
  • 16 Bourdon Treble
  • 8 Open Diapason
  • 8 Stopped Diapason
  • 8 Viola
  • 4 Flauto Traverso
  • 4 Violino
  • 1 1/3 Dolce Cornet III (174 pipes)
  • 8 Oboe & Bassoon
  • Tremelo
  • CHOIR (unenclosed)
  • 8 Geigen Principal
  • 8 Melodia
  • 8 Dulciana
  • 4 Flute d’Amour
  • 2 Piccolo
  • 8 Clarinet
  • PEDAL
  • 16 Open Diapason
  • 16 Bourdon
  • 16 Trombone (*2025 addition)
  • 8 Violincello

About the Musicians