Mrs. Mary Weaver
Choir Director
Education and Degrees:
- B.A. from College of Liberal Arts, U.T., Knoxville
- Major: College Scholars Program, Philosophy
- M.S. from College of Communications, U.T.., Knoxville
- Course concentration: Magazine Journalism
- Music Theory Ear Training, Pellissippi State College
Teaching History:
I’ve spent most of my career as an editor, writer, and editorial director—creating print and online communications, updating and enhancing existing brands, and leading/managing publications of all kinds. After 2001 I worked primarily in Catholic communications. For 11 years I was editor of the diocesan newspaper, The East Tennessee Catholic, and then spent six years as communications director for the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province.
In the early 1990s I became passionately interested in singing and studying the sacred music tradition of the Catholic Church. Since then I’ve attended numerous workshops and trainings on sacred music offered by the Church Music Association of America (CMAA) to hone my skills and deepen my comprehension of this most worthy subject. I have decades of experience singing in liturgical and secular choirs, both volunteer and professional. I’m a founding member of the professional ensemble Harmonia Vocal Quartet (now defunct) and a former president of the Knoxville Choral Society. In 2008 I formed my first choir, the Pope Benedict XVI Schola, which disbanded in 2020 as a casualty of the covid pandemic. I also directed the Monsignor Xavier Mankel Schola at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Since August 2020 I’ve been director of music for Holy Ghost Parish, programming music for the English and Latin Masses and training its English and Latin Mass choirs.
Philosophy of Education:
Music is one of Almighty God’s most beautiful and generous gifts to His children. It gives mankind the opportunity to praise Him fittingly in song and is also a source of great pleasure for those who make music and those who listen. Furthermore, the study of worthy music in a choir setting trains the intellect, fortifies our prayer life, increases our appreciation of beauty, enhances our ability to work in harmony with others (no pun intended), and often forms lifelong friendships. All of these benefits aid in the cultivation of a virtuous Catholic life.
Message to parents:
I’m most grateful for the opportunity to work with your children! I will do everything I can to help them discover the joys of music and to develop their God-given abilities. Music is for all our students, and I have great confidence in their ability to learn and grow musically, spiritually, and intellectually through our class work and performances.
I encourage you to sing as a family—at church, at home, and in the car! I also strongly encourage you to play excellent recorded music during your time together as a family. The more we are exposed to the best music of every period—from the Middle Ages to today—the more we will benefit from and enjoy it.
Please get in touch anytime you would like to discuss our music program, your child’s progress, or anything musical!
Extracurricular Activities:
My husband, Steve, and I live in Knoxville and have shared our life with a succession of scruffy dogs since we married in 1988. The current four- legged occupant of our house is Sam, a Pomeranian. In my copious amounts of spare time, I enjoy listening to music, of course; reading novels (I am an extreme Tolkien nerd) and spiritual books; baking; and watching British cop shows. I’m an off-and-on student of classical guitar.
Contact Information: