The Schola Cantorum of the Pacific®

Online Information and Liturgical Music Journal

Since 1976, fostering the treasure of catholic SACRED MUSIC IN LITURGY AND EDUCATION

Recent Liturgies and Concerts

at the historic La Placita parish of Downtown Los Angeles -- Villancicos Navideños -- Christmas Carols & Choruses, Dec. 15, 2024

〰️

at the historic La Placita parish of Downtown Los Angeles -- Villancicos Navideños -- Christmas Carols & Choruses, Dec. 15, 2024 〰️

The Schola Cantorum of the Pacific and the Escolanía Pacífica choir of Immaculate Conception School of Downtown Los Angeles, in Christmas concert at the La Placita Parish Church of Our Lady Queen of Angels, Dec. 15, 2024, with “Villancicos Navideños.” The concert featured music from the California Missions Era, Gregorian Chant, Renaissance polyphony, and Schola classic carol arrangements in several languages, under the direction of the Choirmaster of the Schola and Escolanía, Vicente Bastidas-Elizondo.

Schola Cantorale at Assumption Catholic Parish, Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California, Laetare Sunday, the Fourth in Advent, March 30, 2025.

〰️

Schola Cantorale at Assumption Catholic Parish, Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California, Laetare Sunday, the Fourth in Advent, March 30, 2025. 〰️

The Schola Cantorale at Assumption Church, Laetare Sunday, March 30, 2025.  Left to right:  Cynia Bih, Louinn Lota - harpist, Marilu Reyes, Zachary Garcia, Marco Latini, Michael Tabor and Vicente Bastidas - Schola Director of Music.   The Cantorale sang and led music by Brahms, Fr. Deiss, the Responsorial Psalm setting in the Schola's own psaltery, new music by Fr. Ley for the Eucharistic Prayer; the Schola's choral-congregational setting of Parce Domine with the traditional successively higher keys; and children's music composed for this catechetical and Family Mass.


Schola Ladies, Summer 2023, St. Mary’s Church, Nashville, TN

Church of the Assumption, Boyle Heights, CA, Nov. 10, 2024 -- 32nd SUNDAY in Ordinary Time

〰️

Church of the Assumption, Boyle Heights, CA, Nov. 10, 2024 -- 32nd SUNDAY in Ordinary Time 〰️

BOYLE HEIGHTS, East Los Angeles, CA — Schola Cantorum of the Pacific adults sing 11 a.m. Mass at Church of the Assumption, Nov. 10, 2024. Singers from left to right: soprano Cynthia Bih; bass Mike Tabor; soprano/alto Christina van Ingen; choirmaster/tenor Vince Bastidas; soprano Louinn Lota; bass Marco Latini; cantrice and soprano/alto Marilu Reyes. First Mass sung using electronic keyboard accompaniment recorded in advance by founder and artistic director Fr. Ted Ley, SM, now based at the Marianist Center in Cupertino, Northern California. Photo courtesy of Vince Bastidas, timed cellphone selfie.

Good Shepherd Sunday at Church of the Assumption, Boyle Heights, CA, July 21, 2024

〰️

Good Shepherd Sunday at Church of the Assumption, Boyle Heights, CA, July 21, 2024 〰️

Good Shepherd Sunday July 21, 2024

BOYLE HEIGHTS, Calif. — Good Shepherd Sunday, July 21, 2024, at Church of the Assumption. Schola Cantorum of the Pacific members (left to right): Bass Marco Latini; founder, Marianist Fr. Ted Ley; alto Alisa Benitez; soprano Christina van Ingen; bass Mike Tabor; visiting archdiocesan priest, Fr. Sebastian Sandoval; sopranos, cantrice Marilu Reyes and Louinn Lota; conductor/choirmaster tenor Vince Bastidas; and soprano Cynthia Bih. Photo taken by visiting Marianist Bro. Gary Morris.

Schola at Marianist Brothers' Jubilee 2024, Queen of Apostles Church, San Jose, California

〰️

Schola at Marianist Brothers' Jubilee 2024, Queen of Apostles Church, San Jose, California 〰️

Queen of Apostles, San Jose, CA, June 22, 2024

SAN JOSE, California _ Schola Cantorum of the Pacific celebrates Society of Mary jubilarians at Queen of Apostles Roman Catholic Church in San Jose on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Jubilarians seated left to right: Bro. James Leahy, 80 years professed; Fr. Robert Hughes, 75 years; Bro. William Bolts, 70 years; and standing, Bro. Roger Bau, 60 years. Schola choristers standing left to right: Basses Marco Latini and Mike Tabor; soprano Christina van Ingen; tenor choirmaster/cantor Vicente Bastidas; Schola founder Marianist Fr. Ted Ley, keyboardist; sopranos Marilu Reyes, Louinn Lota and Cynthia Bih.

Schola Cantorale at Assumption Parish, Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, CA, June 9, 2024, Liturgy of the 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time

〰️

Schola Cantorale at Assumption Parish, Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, CA, June 9, 2024, Liturgy of the 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time 〰️

June 9, 2024 Assumption Parish, Boyle Heights

BOYLE HEIGHTS, Calif. Sopranos (left to right): cantrice Marilu Reyes, Cynthia Bih, Louinn Lota; Fr. Antonio Galindo, OFM; choir founder Fr. Ted Ley, SM; choirmaster/cantor Vicente Bastidas; basses Marco Latini, Mike Tabor; after Sunday, June 9, 2024, Mass at Assumption Parish.

He is Risen! Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, Immaculate Conception Church

〰️

He is Risen! Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, Immaculate Conception Church 〰️

Immaculate Conception Easter Sunday March 31, 2024

Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, Immaculate Conception Church. Adult choristers behind students left to right: sopranos Cynthia Bih, Marilu Reyes, Louinn Lota; alto Alisa Benitez, tenor choirmaster/conductor Vince Bastidas, Fr. Ted Ley, SM, basses Mike Tabor and Marco Latini. Schola adults not pictured or not visible: alto Gennesis Tadeo and soprano Christina van Ingen.

Palm Sunday, March 24, 2024 at Assumption Parish, Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles

〰️

Palm Sunday, March 24, 2024 at Assumption Parish, Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles 〰️

Palm Sunday Assumption March 24, 2024

Assumption Church, March 24, 2024, left to right front row: Sopranos Louinn Lota and cantrice Christina van Ingen; altos Gennesis Tadeo and Alisa Benitez; Fr. Ted Ley, SM; second row: tenors Abraham Tadeo and choirmaster/cantor Vicente Bastidas. Backmost row: basses Mike Tabor, with facemask, and Marco Latini. Photo by Lydia V. Solis. Not pictured: soprano Cynthia Bih. 

Easter Greeting

From Fr. Ted Ley, SM, Schola founder-director

First Lenten Mass of 2024, Assumption Catholic Church, Boyle Heights, CA, Feb. 25

〰️

First Lenten Mass of 2024, Assumption Catholic Church, Boyle Heights, CA, Feb. 25 〰️

2024 Lenten Season, Sunday Feb. 25, Assumption Boyle Heights

ASSUMPTION PARISH, SECOND SUNDAY in LENT, Feb. 25. Back row left to right: Choirmaster/Conductor Vince Bastidas, tenor; Mike Tabor, bass; Marco Latini, baritone; and Abraham Tadeo, tenor. Adults in the front row left to right: Founder/Keyboardist Marianist Fr. Ted Ley, DMA (Doctorate of Musical Arts), Ch.M. (Church Music); Louinn Lota, soprano; Fr. Antonio Galindo, OFM; Cantrice Marilu Reyes, soprano; altos Gennesis Tadeo and Alisa Benitez.

Schola Cantorum of the Pacific sings in 2023


First Eucharist of Christmas 2023 at St. Anthony of Padua, Gardena, CA

〰️

First Eucharist of Christmas 2023 at St. Anthony of Padua, Gardena, CA 〰️

Christmas Eve, St. Anthony of Padua, Gardena, Calif.

ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA, Gardena, CA, Dec. 24, 2023: Schola and alumni, First Eucharist of Christmas. Back row left to right: Julio Maldonado; choirmaster and tenor Vince Bastidas; Theo Greene, Clint Damm, bass Mike Tabor; Luis Navarro. Middle row (l-f): Schola founder Fr. Ted Ley, SM; Elizabeth Tew, sopranos Christina van Ingen, Marilu Reyes; alto Gennesis Tadeo, tenor Abraham Tadeo. Front row (l-f): Glecy Rosario, sopranos Louinn Lota, Cynthia Bih; alto Alisa Benitez. Not pictured: alumni singers Lynh Nguyen and Karen Timko. Alumni singing with congregation: David Bastidas, Kevin Ramirez, Stephanie Bastidas.

Villancicos y Cantos Navideños at Olvera Street, Dec. 3, 2023

〰️

Villancicos y Cantos Navideños at Olvera Street, Dec. 3, 2023 〰️

Olvera Street, Dec. 3, 2023. Vince's camera. Professional photographer, name unknown.

OLVERA STREET, Los Angeles, CA - Dec. 3, 2023. Schola Cantorum beside or behind Immaculate Conception School singers (left to right): Founder Fr. Ted Ley, SM, DMA; Garrett Hill, glockenspiel and tenor; Mike Tabor, bass; Abraham Tadeo, tenor; Marilu Reyes, soprano; altos Gennesis Tadeo and Alisa Benitez; conductor/tenor Vince Bastidas; sopranos Cynthia Bih and Louinn Lota.

Oct. 8, 2023. Front row (left to right): Marilu Reyes, soprano and cantrice, and soprano Louinn Lota; tenor Ricardo Peñaloza; alto Gennesis Tadeo; soprano Cynthia Bih. Back row (left to right): tenor Abraham Tadeo; bass Mike Tabor; keyboardist and founder Fr. Ted Ley, SM; tenors Garrett Hill and Vince Bastidas, conductor and cantor. Not pictured: Soprano Christina van Ingen.

Music City Summer Tour, Nashville, Tennessee August, 2023

〰️

Music City Summer Tour, Nashville, Tennessee August, 2023 〰️

Aug. 19, 2023, Evening Concert. Top Row: tenors Russ Bartoli (cellist), Abraham Tadeo; altos Gennesis Tadeo, Alisa Benitez; bass Bro. David Marshall, OSA. First Row: sopranos Marilu Reyes, Christina van Ingen, Cynthia Bih, Louinn Lota. Conductor and tenor, Vince Bastidas. Seated: Brian Clements, flutist and clarinetist; Fr. Ted Ley, SM, Schola Cantorum of the Pacific founder and keyboardist.

Summer Concert

Evening Concert, 7:30 Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, at historic St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows, in Nashville, Tennessee. Top row left: tenor Abraham Tadeo; altos Gennesis Tadeo, Alisa Benitez; bass Augustinian Bro. David Marshall, OSA. First row left: sopranos Marilu Reyes, Christina van Ingen, Cynthia Bih, Louinn Lota. Foreground: Conductor and tenor Vicente Bastidas-Elizondo.

View from the choir loft in St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows

Evening Concert Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Musicians: Cellist Russell Bartoli, flutist/clarinetist Brian Clements, and at the keyboard, Fr. Ted Ley, SM, DMA. Choir from bottom row: Conductor and tenor Vicente Bastidas-Elizondo. First row (left to right): tenor Abraham Tadeo, sopranos Marilu Reyes, Christina van Ingen, Cynthia Bih, Louinn Lota. Top row: altos Gennesis Tadeo, Alisa Benitez, Bro. David Marshall, OSA, singing bass.

An article in Roman Catholic Diocese of Nashville newspaper, the Tennessee Register “The Voice of Tennessee Catholic Life since 1937.”

Adding our ad!

The flyer to be distributed in advance of the summer tour concert is hot off the press NASHVILLE, Tennessee _ The Schola Cantorum of the Pacific’s summer tour to Nashville includes a Vigil Mass and a rare concert performance of some of the oldest-known Christian church melodies to be held at St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows in downtown Nashville on Saturday Aug. 19, 2023, for both choral events. It is the first-ever Schola concert in Nashville at the historical landmark church built in 1845 on 330 Rep. John Lewis Way N. The 7:30 p.m. concert follows the 5 p.m. Vigil Mass. Doors open at 7 p.m. The concert is free to all and donations are greatly appreciated by our 12 singers and instrumentalists, who are thoroughly excited to perform in the oldest Catholic parish in the Diocese of Nashville.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee _ The concert features rarely heard Gregorian chants, music by French composer Josquin des Prez, Italian Renaissance sacred music master Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, English Renaissance choral composer Thomas Tallis, Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, vocal music composer Benjamin Britten and Taizé composer Jacques Berthier. Choristers and featured instrumentalists - San Francisco, CA, cellist Russell F. Bartoli, and Woodland Hills, CA flutist/clarinetist Brian Clements will be directed by Conductor Vicente Bastidas and Fr. Ted Ley, S.M., DMA, founder 47 years ago of the Schola Cantorum of the Pacific.

 
 

Schola Highlights

The Schola frequently joins with the concert Escolania of the parish school, for Masses and gatherings of Immaculate Conception Parish in Downtown Los Angeles

〰️

The Schola frequently joins with the concert Escolania of the parish school, for Masses and gatherings of Immaculate Conception Parish in Downtown Los Angeles 〰️

Holy Thursday, 4 pm April 6, 2023, Immaculate Conception School students join Schola for Family Mass. Photo by Lydia V. Solis

The Schola Cantorale sings regularly at Assumption Parish in the Los Angeles district of Boyle Heights

〰️

The Schola Cantorale sings regularly at Assumption Parish in the Los Angeles district of Boyle Heights 〰️

Combined choirs sing Jan. 8, 2023, Solemnity of the Epiphany of our Lord. Adult Schola members: Front row left, Marilu Reyes soprano/cantrice; second row left Louinn Lota, soprano. First male back row, Francisco Garcia, bass, Ricardo Peñaloza, tenor, Mike Tabor, bass. First male second row, Abraham Tadeo, tenor, Fr. Ted Ley, SM, organist, and Vince Bastidas, tenor/conductor.

 
 

In Memoriam

Dear Visitors to our website,
It is with a heavy heart that we of the Schola Cantorum of the Pacific acknowledge the unexplainable loss of our great friend, Regional Bishop David O'Connell of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, who succumbed to a violent attack in February, 2023. In joining the many shared words of condolence, we can only cite what St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, and Catholics worldwide sing at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament: “Faith alone can supply where the senses fail.” Rest in peace, special friend of the poor and the needy.
Fr. Ted Ley, SM

 

Schola Family Spirit

The family spirit of the original schola group, as a small christian community continues with current choristers and alumni, united with marianist religious and laity worldwide

Bro. Jack Dempsey, SM (left), now of Cupertino, California; and Fr. Jim Heft, SM, now of the University of Dayton, Ohio — two of the six men lauded at 2022 Jubilee Mass at the Marianist Center in Cupertino.. Photos courtesy of the jubilarians. Photo of San Francisco skyline seen from the Golden Gate Bridge, by Vince Bastidas.

Immaculate Conception School Choristers, the Escolanía Pacífica

〰️

Immaculate Conception School Choristers, the Escolanía Pacífica 〰️

Choirmaster Vicente Bastidas-Elizondo conducts Immaculate Conception School choristers at American Martyrs Vigil Mass April 2, 2022, to recognize Saint Sebastian Sports Project recipients.