Youth Music

Jim Gardner, Director of Music Ministry, Organist, Choir Master
jgardner@stthomasamarillo.org
Parish Office:  (806) 358-2461, ext. 105
 
Contact Jim Gardner for more information about the Youth Music Ministry program here at St. Thomas.

Youth Music Groups Rehearsal Times
Orchestra Sundays 5:00 - 5:30 pm
Handbell Choir Sundays 5:30 - 6:15 pm
Choir Sundays 6:15 - 7:00 pm

St. Thomas Youth Choir is comprised of youth in grades 6^th through 12^th wanting to serve our parish through song.  We meet weekly on Sunday afternoons during the school year.  We sing at the 9am mass monthly during Ordinary time, weekly through Advent and Lent, and for Christmas Eve, Palm Sunday, and Easter.  We currently have 40 members.  All youth are welcome to join us!
 
The youth have many opportunities throughout the year to sing solos and in small groups.
 
We have made a pilgrimage to Italy in March of 2002, December of 2007, December of 2012, and are planning to return December 2017.  We had the opportunity to celebrate and sing mass in various churches throughout Italy, including the New Year’s Day Mass at St. Peter’s with Pope Benedict XVI presiding in December of 2007.  In addition to the Italy Pilgrimages, after Easter our youth prepare a touring musical.
 
The youth choir has toured with the following musicals:

• May 2016  Kingdom, Power, Glory Amarillo Diocese
• June 2014  Where Jesus Is Colorado
• June 2011  Amazing God Oklahoma
• December 2008  An Evening in December Amarillo Diocese
• May 2008  Making History Amarillo Diocese
• May 2007  Where Jesus Is Amarillo Diocese
• June 2006  Where Jesus Is Oklahoma
• May 2005  Above All Amarillo Diocese
• June 2004  Any Road, Any Cost Colorado

Our youth bell choir was formed in the Spring of 2003.  It is comprised of youth in grades 6^th through 12^th.  For those youth who are reading music already, handbells are a wonderful challenge to further that reading ability.
 
Our church is blessed to have 5 octaves of Schulmerich Handbells for our handbell choirs to ring.  The youth bell choir rehearses Sunday afternoons during the school year and rings at various times at mass throughout the year.  We currently have 18 members.

These young musicians are the parishes pride and joy, practicing each Sunday afternoon during the school year as they prepare to accompany the liturgy at Combined Music Masses, Midnight Mass, and Holy Saturday-Easter Sunday.  As players become more proficient they transfer to the Guitar ensemble for more playing time at church!  It is suggested that the players have at least three years experience in their respective school orchestra-band programs before they began to play with us.  Private lessons are encouraged.  Call the music office for more details!