You don’t have to compose by yourself. Join in the DSJ Composers’ Forum!

Monday, November 3, 7:30p to 9:30p
Chancery (
1150 North First Street, San Jose, 95112)

We have many liturgical music composers in the Diocese, but we don’t always have a chance to hear each other’s work and give each other feedback. The goal of this composers’ forum is to gather local liturgical composers to do just that so that we can be better at composing music that serves the liturgy and helps the assembly participate more fully in it. Composers of all abilities are invited. Non-composer music ministers are also invited to hear some new music and to give their feedback.

For more information and to RSVP, please contact Diana Macalintal. Please specify if you would like to share one of your pieces. Each person who wants to share music will have 10 minutes to present his or her piece (one composition only, please) and receive feedback from the group. Please make 20 copies of your piece to share with the group.

Guest Composer: Janèt Sullivan Whitaker

Janet Sullivan WhitakerJoining us will be Janèt Sullivan Whitaker, a talented cantor, keyboardist, percussionist, composer and clinician. She has presented workshops on cantor dynamics, lector formation, parish repertoire, song of the assembly and keyboard improvisation. She is a 25-year veteran of active music ministry in the Diocese of Oakland, California. As cantor, Janèt has led the assembly at many liturgical events, including National Association of Pastoral Musicians conventions. She has a bachelor of arts in music degree from California State University, Hayward. Janèt is a contributing composer and singing member of the Daughters of God, a group of women musicians committed to contemporary Christian music. Many of her compositions are found in the Oregon Catholic Press (OCP) hymnals, including “Here At This Table” and “In Every Age.”

Some immediate help for composers

At our first gathering, we started looking at these 10 suggestions from Marty Haugen for liturgical music composers. It’s an excellent list for anyone who wants to write for the Church assembly. Also, if you’re on Facebook, check out this amazing conversation about liturgical music composing with so many of our Church’s best current composers! This is a composition class in itself!

Please share this post with your composer friends and let them know about this gathering.