Mary Jane Ballou is the director of Cantorae, a women’s a cappella ensemble in St. Augustine, Florida. Cantorae sings vespers regularly at the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche as well as special events and Masses. The repertoire ranges from Gregorian and Russian chant to modern polyphony. Dr. Ballou studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, San Francisco State University, Pratt Institute, and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Her chant studies were with Scott Turkington, William Mahrt, Father Lawrence Heiman, C.PPS., and Dom Daniel Saulnier at the Abbey of Solesmes. Her doctorate in sacred music is from the Graduate Theological Foundation.
She has been active with the Church Music Association of America since 2007 and is a regular contributor to the CMAA’s Sacred Music journal on the care and feeding of choirs. She has worked with Lutheran, Episcopal, Russian Orthodox, Byzantine Catholic, Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Ordinariate churches. She is an aficionado of shape-note hymnody and a professional performer on Celtic harp. Working with singers and directors, Dr. Ballou combines expertise with patience and humor. Her motto is “Sacred doesn’t mean sad.”