Founded in 2008, Hamilton Schola Cantorum (HSC) is a non-denominational choir of men and women dedicated to the study of Gregorian Chant and to its performance in concert and in liturgy. HSC is sponsored by the Gregorian Institute of Canada under the direction of William Renwick (renwick /at/ mcmaster.ca). HSC also sings traditional polyphony in Latin and English.
HSC welcomes visitors and new members. As of January 2023, HSC meets on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. at St. George’s Church, 134 Emerson Street, Hamilton. Contact: William Renwick for further information (renwick /at/ mcmaster.ca).
HSC is pleased to sing at services, weddings, funerals and concerts in southern Ontario and the surrounding region. Contact William Renwick for information and bookings (renwick /at/ mcmaster.ca).
Special Upcoming Performances
Monday-Tuesday, July 24-25, 2023: The Feast of St. James, at St. George’s Reformed Episcopal Church, 134 Emerson Street, Hamilton. The Schola will participate in Vespers and Compline each day, and in the Mass on Tuesday. This is part of an immersive experience in Medieval English Liturgy of York hosted by the Gregorian Institute of Canada.
Regular Performances
Members of HSC sing Sarum Chant at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin (Independent Anglican) each Sunday at 12:30, meeting at Our Lady of Mercy RC Church, Dundurn Street North, Hamilton Ontario. We use the Sarum Gradual in Latin and the Sarum Gradual in English.
From 2008-July 2019, members of HSC sang for the Gregorian Tridentine Mass in the diocese of Hamilton, at St. Mary’s Church, St. Mary’s Chapel, St. Lawrence Church, and more recently St. Anne’s Church, on the first, third, and fifth Sundays afternoons of the month. Taking over the tradition carried on faithfully for many years by Geoffrey Steele, we used the Liber Usualis. The Tridentine mass is now at 12:00 noon every Sunday at St. Anne’s Church. Unfortunately, at this time HSC members are not available to sing in this new schedule.
Past Performances
Monday May 29, 2023, 7:30 pm: Evensong, St. George’s Reformed Episcopal Church, 134 Emerson Street, Hamilton, featuring Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, Fauxbourdons by Byrd, and O Lord, Give thy Holy Spirit by Tallis.
Wednesday, April 5, 2023: 7:30 pm, Tenebrae, Basilica of our Lady, 28 Norfolk Street, Guelph ON. A service of Light into Darkness, featuring the Responsories for Tenebrae by Healey Willan, and Miserere by Renwick.
Monday February 13, 2023, 7:30 pm: Evensong, St. George’s Reformed Episcopal Church, 134 Emerson Street, Hamilton, featuring Stainer, Hail, gladenning light, Hylton Stewart, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, and Bach, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.
Sunday November 20, 2022, 4:00 pm: Evensong, St. Jude’s Anglican Church, Oakville
Tuesday-Wednesday, July 19-20, 2022: The Feast of St. Margaret, at St. Matthews on the Plains, Burlington. The Schola participated in Vespers and Compline each day, and in the Mass on Wednesday. This was part of an immersive experience in Medieval English Liturgy from York and Sarum hosted by the Gregorian Institute of Canada.
Wednesday, April 8, 2020, 7:00 pm, Tenebrae, Basilica of our Lady, 28 Norfolk Street, Guelph ON A service of Light into Darkness, featuring the Responsories for Tenebrae by Healey Willan, and Miserere setting by William Renwick) This performance was cancelled because of COVID.
Sunday March 8, 2020, 7:00 pm, Sarum Compline, Basilica of our Lady, 28 Norfolk Street, Guelph ON, in the crypt.
Sunday, May 5 2019, 7:00 pm. Vespers for the Second Sunday of Easter. St. Augustine’s Church, 58 Sydenham St, Dundas, ON
Sunday, March 10, 2019, 7:00 pm. Vespers for the First Sunday of Lent. St. Augustine’s Church, 58 Sydenham St, Dundas, ON
Wednesday, April 17, 2019, 7:00 pm Tenebrae, Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church, 287 Plains Road East, Burlington ON (A service of Light into Darkness, featuring the Responsories for Tenebrae by Healey Willan, and Allegri’s Miserere)
Sunday, October 21 2019, 4:00 pm: Evensong, St. Jude’s Anglican Church, Oakville
Tuesday August 14-Wednesday August 15, 2018, The Feast of the Assumption, Grace Lutheran Church, 1107 Main St W, Hamilton, ON. This will include the Full Office and Mass: First Vespers, Compline, Matins, Lauds, Prime, Chapter, Terce, Procession, Mass, Sext, None, Second Vespers, and Compline. The full text and music is available here: Sarum Assumption 2018. Any and all are invited to this event. TEXTS and MUSIC will not be provided–please print anything that you wish from the file. For further information, please contact William Renwick.
Saturday, June 2, 2018, 1:30 pm. The Feast of Saint Cecilia, Gregorian Institute of Canada Colloquium, St. John’s Chapel, Huron College, Western University, London ON. (newly edited performing version from York manuscripts by Brandon Wild)
Friday, May 11, 2018, 3:00 pm. The Feast of Saint Cecilia, International Medieval Congress, Kanley Chapel, University of Western Michigan, Kalamazoo MI (augmented by members of the Gregorian institute of Canada)
Sunday, March 25, 2018, 7:00 pm. Tenebrae, Port Nelson United Church, 3132 South Dr, Burlington ON (featuring the Responsories of Healey Willan and fauxbourdons by William Renwick)
Wednesday, November 22, 2017, 7:30 pm The Feast of Saint Cecilia, Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church, 287 Plains Road East, Burlington ON (A Celebration of St. Cecilia with the premiere of newly edited medieval chant from York Minster Cathedral.)
Sunday, October 15 2017, 4:00 pm: Evensong, St. Jude’s Anglican Church, Oakville
Sunday, June 11, 2017, 3:00 pm The Feast of the Holy Trinity, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 3455 Lakeshore Road, Burlington. A recreation of a 16th Century Lutheran Mass.
Friday, May 5, 2017, 7:00 pm Luther Festival Concert, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Hamilton ON A Concert featuring Lutheran music from the 16th and 17th centuries, with special guest, Stillman Mattheson, Organ.
Wednesday, April 12, 2017, 7:00 pm Tenebrae, Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church, 287 Plains Road East, Burlington ON (A service of Light into Darkness, featuring the Responsories for Tenebrae by Healey Willan, and Allegri’s Miserere)
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 9:00 am. The Feast of the Annunciation, St. Anne’s Church (Roman Catholic), 11 Wilson Street, Ancaster ON
Sunday, October 16 2016, 4:00 pm: Evensong, St. Jude’s Anglican Church, Oakville.
Sunday, June 26, 2016, 5:00 pm. Mass in the Extraordinary Form, Our Lady of the Cataract, Niagara Fall NY.
Friday, May 13, 2016, 3:30 pm: The Feast of Saint Osmund. International Medieval Congress, Kanley Chapel, University of Western Michigan, Kalamazoo MI
Friday, March 25, 2016, 7:00 pm: Tenebrae, St. Matthew’s on the Plains, Burlington. (In English, with polyphony by Healey Willan and William Renwick).
Tuesday, February 9, 2016, 12:30 pm: The Feast of Saint Osmund. Convocation Hall, McMaster University.
January 6, 2016. The First Mass of Christmas, Christminster Orthodox Monastery, St. George’s Cathedral Church, Niagara Falls, NY.
Sunday, November 1, 2015, 4:00 p.m. Vespers for the Feast of All Saints, Saint Mark’s Church, Niagara on the Lake
April 25, 2015. Mass in the Extraordinary Form, Our Lady of the Cataract, Niagara Fall NY.
Friday, April 3, 2015. Sarum Tenebre, Holy Cross Church, Burlington
February 1, 2015. Sarum Procession and Mass for the Feast of the Purification, Grace Church, Hamilton.
January 6, 2014, First Mass of Christmas, Christminster Orthodox Monastery St. George’s Cathedral Church, Niagara Falls, New York.
Sunday, September 14, 2014. Vespers for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, St. Anne’s Church, Ancaster.
Friday, April 18, 2014. Sarum Tenebre, Holy Rosary Church, Burlington.
January 6, 2013, First Mass of Christmas, Christmnister Orthodox Monastery, St. George’s Cathedral Church, Niagara Falls, New York.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013. Treasures of English Chant, Convocation Hall, McMaster University.
Friday, March 29, 2013. Sarum Tenebre, Saint Patrick’s Church, Hamilton.
Friday, March 29, 2013, Passion According to St. John. Saint Patrick’s Church, Hamilton. (Polyphony by Victoria)
January 6, 2013, First Mass of Christmas. (Orthodox Calendar), Our Lady of Glastonbury Oratory, Hamilton.
November 2, 2012, Gregorian Requiem Mass for All Souls, St. Patrick’s Church, Hamilton.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 .Sarum Mass for the Feast of the Ascension. Grace Church, Hamilton.
Wednesday-Sunday, May 9-13, 2012, members of Hamilton Schola Cantorum sing selections from the Sarum, Beneventan, and Dominican liturgies for the Feast of the Ascension at the 47th Medieval Congress in Kalamazoo MI.
Friday, April 6, 2012. Tenebrae in English, Holy Rosary Church, Burlington. Music of the Sarum Rite with fauxbourdons by William Renwick and Responsories by Healey Willan.
Friday, January 6, 2012, First Mass of Christmas (Orthodox Calendar), Our Lady of Glastonbury Oratory.
Friday, November 18, 2011, Favourite Gregorian Chants. Special guests, the Rosewood Consort (recorders) Grace Church, Hamilton.
Sunday, November 13, 2011, 3:00 p.m. Favourite Gregorian Chants. Special guests, the Rosewood Consort (recorders) Holy Rosary Church, Burlington.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011, Gregorian Requiem Mass for All Souls St. Patrick’s Church, Hamilton.
Friday, April 22, 2011. Tenebre, St. Patrick’s Church, Hamilton. Music of the Sarum Rite with fauxbourdons by William Renwick and Responsories by Healey Willan.
Sunday, January 16, 2011, Missa de Angelis. Holy Rosary Church, Burlington.
Thursday, January 6, 2011, First Mass of Christmas (Orthodox Calendar) Our Lady of Glastonbury Oratory.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010, Music for the Feast of Thomas Becket, Grace Church, Hamilton.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010: All Souls Requiem, St. Patrick’s Church, Hamilton. Including the motet, Ecce quomodo moritur justus by Jacob Handl.
Sunday, October 24, 2010, Choral Evensong, St. George’s Church (Independent Anglican), Hamilton (Stoney Creek). Including Magnificat and Nunc dimittis by Healey Willan, and the motet, I will lay me down in peace, also by Willan.
Sunday, August 8, 2010, Dedication, Choral Evensong, and Solemn Benediction, Pro-Cathedral of St. George the Martyr, Niagara Falls, NY. Including Stanford Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in G, and Mozart Laudate Dominum.
Friday, June 25, 2010, Choral Evensong, St. Paul’s Church, Dunnville. As part of the 2010 Cranmer Conference.
May 13-16, 2010, Music for the Feast of Thomas Becket, 45th International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, MI.
Friday, April 2, 2010: Tenebrae (in English) Holy Rosary Church, Burlington.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010, Procession and Mass for the Feast of the Purification (Sarum Rite), Grace Church, Hamilton,
Wednesday, January 6, 2010, First Mass of Christmas (Orthodox Calendar) at Our Lady of Glastonbury Oratory, Hamilton,
Monday, November 2, 2009: All Souls Requiem Mass, Saint Patrick’s Church, Hamilton.
Thursday, August 13, 2009, Opening Concert, Convocation Hall, McMaster University, Conference: ‘Traditions in Gregorian Chant’, sponsored by the Gregorian Institute of Canada and the School of the Arts, McMaster University.
Friday, May 22, 2009, Evensong, The Cranmer Conference, St. Paul’s Church, Dunville, Ontario.
Friday, April 10, 2009, Tenebrae (in English), Holy Rosary Church, Burlington.
Thursday, March 19, 2009, Mass for the Feast of St. Joseph, Queen of Angels Oratory, St Catharines, ON.
January 6, 2009, First Mass of Christmas (Orthodox Calendar), Our Lady of Glastonbury Oratory.
November 2, 2008, Concert with organist Stillman Mattheson, St. Lawrence Church, Hamilton, sponsored by the Royal School of Church Music.