Cantantes in Cordibus

Cantantes in Cordibus, founded in 2002, brings sacred music to Jersey City and surrounding areas in its liturgical context, such as Mass and other ceremonies. It initially started in 1999 with a small group performing Gregorian Ordinaries (plainchant settings) at the 8:00 am Mass in St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in downtown Jersey City. In 2002, the choir relocated to Holy Rosary for the restoration of the ancient Latin Mass. In August of the same year, Rev. Mark Rossetti took charge and expanded the choir's membership and repertoire. Joseph Orchard, a musicologist, oversaw the men's schola cantorum, focusing on polyphonic Mass Ordinaries and Gregorian Propers. A tradition began in 2002 of celebrating Christmas Eve with Mass settings by Classical composers accompanied by an orchestra concert. Other key figures in Cantantes in Cordibus include Brother Gregory Burns, who served as organist in 2004, Emmanuel Leemans, who directed the choir from 2004 to his retirement in the following year, Daniel Pross, a renowned Hudson County musician who became director and organist in 2006, and Harold Bott, who led the choir until 2013 before relocating to Florida. Simone Ferraresi, an Italian-born concert pianist and composer, took over the choir's direction after singing in the bass section and accompanying on the organ. Under Simone's leadership in the past twelve years, the choir has become a Jersey City institution, adapting as the Latin Mass moved through various locations, including Holy Rosary, St. Anthony of Padua Church, Assumption, St. Paul the Apostle, and currently, Our Lady of Sorrows.