Music and singing have always been an essential element of the wedding liturgy. All music selected for weddings is to be recognized liturgical music. Some classical music is also acceptable. Our music director is happy to guide you in your selections. In order to ensure that planning of the music for your wedding liturgy goes smoothly, the following procedure has been established:
- Couples should contact Mr. Robert Zanca, the Director of Music (504-621-6249) or rgzuno@aol.com), as soon as the date of the wedding has been confirmed. Mr. Zanca will make every effort to respond within 72 hours. This will confirm Mr. Zanca’s availability for the date and time of the wedding. All music must be approved by Mr. Zanca, and he will ordinarily be present for the wedding as organist.
- The stipend for the consult, prelude music and all organ music during the ceremony is $300.00. Couples who wish to engage additional instrumentalists or a vocalist should discuss this with Mr. Zanca at the time of initial contact. Unless receiving prior approval from Mr. Zanca, couples are required to use the service of a St. Alphonsus Parish vocalist to lead the congregational singing during a wedding liturgy if it takes place during a Mass. The stipend for a vocalist is $300.00. Other musicians may be used for solo selections (at the couple’s expense) but must be approved by Mr. Zanca, who can provide recommendations. Couples should feel free at the time of initial contact to ask any questions they may have about music for their wedding.
- Approximately three months prior to the wedding the couple should contact Mr. Zanca to finalize selections for the wedding liturgy. This may include a consultation in person at a mutually agreeable time, or may also be handled via email. The stipend for the organist (and vocalist, if applicable) is due at this time.
St. Alphonsus Parish recognizes that couples may want to incorporate musical elements from various ethnic liturgical cultures (i.e. Hispanic or Vietnamese). In these cases Mr. Zanca will be happy to work with the couple in arranging the services of competent musicians who are skilled in these musical traditions.
