SINGING THE HOURS: The Divine Office as Prayer, Tradition, and Song
“The Divine Office is the voice of the Church herself, addressed to God in the name of all the faithful.”
— Sacrosanctum Concilium (adapted from §84)
Singing the Hours: The Divine Office as Prayer, Tradition, and Song
Aquinas College – Nashville, TN
July 15-19, 2026
Program Description
Singing the Hours is a five-day residential sacred music workshop dedicated to the Church’s sung prayer. Rooted in the “Roman School” of Gregorian chant and enriched by Dominican-Gregorian tones, the course immerses participants in silence, chant, and prayer through the daily celebration of Lauds, Vespers, and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Designed especially for singers and church musicians, the week combines theological formation with hands-on chant practice, forming participants to understand and embody the Divine Office as living tradition. Particular attention will be given to the forthcoming English edition of the Liturgy of the Hours, including the newly approved Abbey Psalms and Canticles, preparing musicians to receive and serve this new translation with confidence. The workshop culminates in solemn sung Vespers — the fruit of study, rehearsal, and contemplation.
Training will be conducted on the Aquinas College campus in Nashville, TN. Check-in is from 2-4pm on Wednesday, July 15; departure after lunch on Sunday, July 19.
Workshop Leader
Workshop Leader: Sister Rosemary Esseff, O.P.
Sister Rosemary is Director of Sacred Music at Saint Cecilia Motherhouse in Nashville, where she forms singers and musicians in the Church’s liturgical tradition. A composer of sacred choral works and an opera, she is deeply committed to the renewal of the Liturgy of the Hours in parish and religious life. She has been actively engaged in preparing musicians for the new English translation of the Abbey Psalms and Canticles, helping communities enter more fully into the sung prayer of the Church.
Residential Immersion & Participation Expectations
This formation is intentionally designed as a fully immersive residential experience. Participants are expected to stay onsite for the duration of the course.
Living, praying, learning, and sharing meals together creates a depth of formation that cannot be replicated in a commuter model. Many participants find that the informal conversations, shared silence, and unstructured time together are among the most formative aspects of the week.
For this reason, requests to attend as a day student or commuter will be strongly discouraged. While we understand that local participants may be interested in commuting, we ask applicants to carefully consider the purpose and spirit of this particular formation before requesting an exception.
In rare and exceptional circumstances, limited commuter participation may be considered, but priority will be given to those able to fully participate in the residential experience.
Meals & Lodging
All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), as well as snacks, will be provided, beginning with dinner on Wednesday, July 15 and concluding with lunch on Sunday, July 19. Overnight accommodations (four nights) are provided at the beautiful on-site Siena Hall Conference Center. Each participant will be provided a private spacious bedroom and a Jack-and-Jill bathroom shared with one other attendee.
Registration
Registration for this intensive residential workshop is $1,100 per participant. The fee includes the full workshop, all meals, and overnight accommodations.
Early Bird Rate: Participants who complete registration and submit full payment by May 1 receive a discounted registration fee of $995.
Space in this formation course is limited to 24* participants. To secure a place in the course, please complete the online registration form and submit payment. Registration may also be submitted by mail; see course brochure for registration form. Payment may be made via check mailed to Aquinas College (4210 Harding Pike, Nashville TN 37205) or via online credit card payment.
A nonrefundable deposit of $300 is due with registration. Balance is due by June 1, 2026. Cancellations before June 15 will receive a full refund, less the $300 deposit.
* Note that a minimum of 12 participants is required for the course to be offered. If this minimum is not reached by June 1, all tuition, including deposits, will be refunded.
If the cost of registration presents a financial hardship, partial scholarships may be available. Contact smolar@aquinascollege.edu for more information.
Questions?
For questions or more information, contact us.
