Music Ministries

David C. Jonies, Director of Music & Organist

David is Director of Music and Organist at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, where he plays the three organs by Flentrop and Casavant for Archdiocesan and Parish liturgies as well as in concert. Prior to his appointment in Chicago, he held positions at St. Joseph & St. Patrick Parish in Escanaba (Michigan), Westminster Cathedral in London, and the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace.
A native of Germany, he holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Hochschule für Musik in Würzburg and the Performer’s Certificate from the Royal Academy of Music in London. His teachers have included James O’Donnell, David Titterington, Günther Kaunzinger, and Gerhard Weinberger

Described as a “gem” (The American Organist) and an “impeccable” performer (Bonner Generalanzeiger), organist David enjoys an excellent reputation among his colleagues as a concert organist and church musician. Known for his wide range of repertoire, David was awarded the 1st prize at the 1999 Landau International Organ Competition.

International concert appearances include Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Westminster Abbey and the London Handel Festival in the U. K., the Pusan Bach Festival in South Korea, the Cathedral at Budejovice in the Czech Republic, the Bluval Music Festival and the Cathedrals of Bamberg, Mainz, Passau and Trier in Germany.

In the United States, he has performed at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, at Marcus Center with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, at the Pine Mountain Music Festival (Michigan), Piccolo Spoleto Festival (South Carolina), at the Cathedrals of Seattle (Washington), Helena (Montana), Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), Hartford (Connecticut), Sioux City (Iowa), Houston (Texas) and recitals and workshops for American Guild of Organists Chapters and Dioceses around the Midwest. He has been a featured artist for national conventions of the Organ Historical Society and the National Association for Pastoral Musicians.

Elizabeth A. Vasiljevic, Associate Director of Music

Elizabeth is the Associate Director of Music at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, where she conducts the Cathedral Singers, sings for Cathedral and Archdiocesan events as a cantor and as part of the Schola Cantorum, and plays the clarinet for Masses. She has extensive experience in sacred music, having worked as a cantor for St. Norbert in Northbrook, Ss. Faith, Hope and Charity in Winnetka, St. Philip the Apostle Church in Northfield, and as a member of the professional choir at St. John Cantius Church and St. Peter’s in the Loop. Elizabeth also has experience in secular music, having sang professionally with the William Ferris Choral for multiple seasons.

A graduate of West Chester University, Elizabeth not only participated in numerous choirs and music groups, but she also founded and conducted the Women’s Choir, which was incorporated into the school’s formal curriculum upon her graduation. Awarded a full tuition merit scholarship to pursue graduate work at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Elizabeth received her Master of Music in Choral Conducting while performing with the Graduate Chorale, the New Music Ensemble and the Opera Chorus.

Elizabeth has spent many years as a high school teacher, passing her love of music and singing onto her students. She taught high school choir and Advance Placement Music Theory at Normal West High School, Bremen High School and Hillcrest High School. Her work as an educator is exemplified by the multiple first-place awards her choirs earned at national music festivals.

Schola Cantorum

The professional music ensemble at the Cathedral, the Schola Cantorum’s members hold positions in the Chicago Symphony Chorus, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Grant Park Festival chorus, as well as many other premier music ensembles in Chicago. The Schola provides the sung ordinary and proper texts at the 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Masses on Sundays and for special liturgies, solemnities and Cathedral events. Their musicianship and dedication to the great choral tradition of the Roman Catholic Church are an inspiration to choirs and a source of beauty in the church’s liturgy.

Cathedral Singers

The mixed voice volunteer ensemble at the Cathedral sings at the 12:30 p.m. Mass with the Schola Cantorum on alternate Sundays and at select special liturgies and solemnities.

Women’s Schola

The all-female volunteer ensemble at the Cathedral sings for the 5:15pm Mass on alternate Saturdays and for select solemnities.

Cathedral Filipino Singers

Originally a mixed-voice volunteer ensemble assembled to sing at the Cathedral Filipino Network special events of Simbang Gabi and the Santo Niño Mass, the Cathedral Filipino Singers have become a regular choral ensemble, singing once a month at the 5:15 p.m. Mass on Saturdays and sharing favorite cultural pieces in Tagalog.

Young Adult Music Ensemble

All Young Adults at the Cathedral are invited to join this relaxed ensemble for the 5:15 p.m. Mass on Sunday at the Young Adult designated Mass.