Hearts and Voices United

Music plays a vital role in the celebration of Holy Mass. It not only helps structure the liturgy, but it also fosters a sense of belonging and unity among those in attendance. Ultimately, it is prayer in song that everyone is called to join. The songs, psalms, and responses come to life through the many voices that comprise the group of singers and musicians in the Corpus Christi Cathedral Choir. They have been offering their musical talents in a spirit of community from one liturgical season to another. Director of Music Alex Oldroyd and cantors Santos “Tommy” Cantu and Carolina Salinas reflect on their roles in the choir and the choir’s role in the celebration of Holy Mass.

Alex Oldroyd, born in Provo, Utah, was fascinated by organ music at a young age. His mother served as the organist at his church, and he recalls how she shared her talent with him and how that set the course for his life and work: “My mother was a church organist, and something about that music just captivated me,” he says. “I used to go to church and sit on the organ bench with her when I was about five years old, and I was just captivated.”

Oldroyd plays the organ and directs the choir, whose membership continues to grow. Two singers who frequently serve as cantors during Mass are Santos “Tommy” Cantu and Carolina Salinas. Both have extensive education and experience in music and commit their time and talent to the Corpus Christi Cathedral Choir.

Cantu is from Robstown, and he plays piano and guitar in addition to singing. He previously was in the choir at St. John the Baptist Parish and regularly sings the responsorial psalm at Cathedral Mass.

He attended Del Mar College and graduated with two associate degrees in music, one in voice and the other in music education. He is currently teaching music at Driscoll Middle School. 

“I've been here for four years, and it is so great to be a part of this choir,” says Cantu. “It is something I take to heart because I always put so much emotion in everything I sing.”

Carolina Salinas, another choir member serving as cantor, also balances music and education. She hails from a musical family. Her father performed with a mariachi group; her brother is a local high school band director. She graduated from Del Mar College with an associate degree in music and will soon receive her bachelor's degree in music education from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

“I've been singing with the choir for almost five years now,” she says. “It's been a wonderful experience. And when I first joined, I was obviously not a cantor right away. It's been a growing process, singing with such wonderful people.”

“There's a lot of research about choir members being in sync when singing a piece because their heartbeats synchronized to one another through their breathing,” says Oldroyd. “Carolina and Tommy are two examples of that when they share the gift of their voices with the rest of the choir and everyone at Holy Mass.”

On Sunday, April 7, 2024, the Del Mar College choirs and Mastersingers join the Cathedral choirs to present Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms with organ, harp, and percussion. The text is sung entirely in Hebrew and takes its text from Psalms 2, 23, 100, 108, 131, and 133.