
Sacred Music

Scott Turkington
Director of Sacred Music
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is excited to announce that, as of July 1, Scott Turkington has become the new Director of Sacred Music at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Scott studied music at the University of Minnesota, the Boston Conservatory of Music and The Catholic University of America. Today, he is an accomplished organ recitalist and lecturer. In recent years, he has been the organist and choirmaster for Holy Family Catholic Church in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
Scott has many plans for the Shrine, beginning with building upon the work of previous directors, then exploring the Church’s treasury of sacred music, and ultimately expanding the Shrine’s choral, organ and congregational music liturgy.

New
Choir Camp
June 19-23, 2023, 9:15am - Noon
Choir Camp (Ages 7-18)
This summer the Shrine will offer its first Choir Camp, for children aged 7-18. Three teachers will be on hand to divide into age groups. Many elements of music will be studied each day, with emphases on singing, tuning and intonation, rounds, Gregorian chant, hymns, chanting of Psalms, games and of course fun! The entire group will come together twice each day, singing things they’ve learned, and will also sing for the 12:15pm Mass in the Shrine Church each of the five days. Instructors are Scott Turkington, Rebecca Visser and Mary Demko, all with many years of experience teaching the Church’s music to children.

Choir Camp Cost:
Pay for the first three. The rest are free!
New
Ward Course
July 17-21, 2023
A Course for Adult Teachers of Children
Developed in the early part of the 20th Century as a method of teaching music to children in American Catholic schools, the Ward Method was developed by Justine Ward and Fr. Thomas Shields. This graded system, intended for children from first grade through high school, is based entirely on solfège, scales and modality, the free rhythm of Gregorian chant and the traditional music of the Church. Each lesson is mostly sung and includes elements of dictation, intonation, memory games, rhythm, all culminating in the song of the day, the goal being toward genuine musical literacy. Meets daily from 9:15 am - 5:00 pm.
$325 (Teacher’s manual included.)
For more information, please contact Scott Turkington at STurkington@GuadalupeShrine.org.

Back Again!
Chant Camp - For High Schoolers
August 14-18, 2023, 9:15am - Noon
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is again hosting the Chant Camp for High Schoolers. For five days, Shrine Sacred Music Director, Scott Turkington, will teach beginners the fundamentals of traditional chant while seasoned singers improve their talent. By the end of the week-long course, attendees will possess an excellent grasp of reading chant notation, will be singing with greater confidence each day, and will sing for the 12:15pm Mass in the Shrine Church each of the five days.
Chant Camp Cost:
Pay for the first three. The rest are free!