Call For Papers

The Nova Cantica Conference committee will be holding its second annual Catholic sacred music conference this summer 2026, from Friday, July 31st to Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, at Our Lady of the Assumption Church and Academy and the nearby Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy Dominican convent in Walton, Kentucky. The theme of this year's conference, as an act of reparation for the public offense to the Mother of God caused by Mater Populi fidelis, will be “Mary, Co-Redemptrix and Mediatrix of All Graces.” Topics will include Marian feasts from the medieval to the early modern period, Marian plainchant and motets, with lectures and workshops on choral pedagogy, music history, vocal and organ pedagogy, injury-prevention and wellness for church musicians, composing for the Mass, and so much more!

We invite Catholic church musicians, including musicologists, choir directors, organists, and singers to present for this conference! Members of SSPX priories and chapels are especially encouraged to apply. Presentations can be single-authored (presented by one person) or co-authored (presented by more than one person). Topics on Marian themes are especially encouraged. Presentations may take any of the four formats:

1. Lightning Round Paper: a 10-minute presentation on a topic related to Catholic sacred music, including, but not limited to: a topic from music history, music education, choral, organ, or vocal pedagogy.
2. Traditional Conference Presentation: 20 minute-paper on a topic related to Catholic sacred music (as listed above), but which is slightly longer, with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion, and which is followed by a 10-minute Q and A period.
3. Workshops: A practicum/demonstration for organ, voice, or choir, which lasts 45 minutes and has a 15-minute Q and A period.
4. Poster Presentation: applicants create a poster related to a theme in Catholic sacred music. A prize will be awarded for the best poster at the conference.

Proposals must include the first and last name of the applicant, title of presentation/workshop/poster, the format desired, and a 100-200 word abstract (a brief description of the topic and its relevance to the Nova Cantica Conference.) The deadline for submissions is April 30th, 2026, and should be sent via email to novacanticaconference@gmail.com, with the subject “Call for Papers 2026.” Applicants will be notified by email by the end of May whether or not their proposal was selected. In some cases, applicants may be asked to change the format of their proposal, or the length of the presentation (e.g., a proposal submitted as a 20-minute presentation may be asked to be modified as a lightning-round paper).

Composer's Challenge

The Nova Cantica Committee announces its very first Composer's Challenge, for all church musicians who have experience in or are interested in composing for the Traditional Latin Mass. Each composer picks one or two of the following challenges below, which includes a manuscript source (digitized and available online), the chant in question which the composition must be based on, and some musicological context for creative inspiration (available upon request). The options are limitless (e.g., the composer can also use other music sources and a range of compositional techniques as desired), but the goal is to help promote one of the unique initiatives of this conference: using primary sources and the historical context about a source to inspire new Catholic compositions. This helps fulfill the “Instaurare omnia in Christo” initiative of Pope St. Pius X in context of the restoration and renewal of Catholic sacred music for the Latin Mass—central to the mission of this conference. Submissions will be judged by a panel of Catholic composers at Nova Cantica 2026, with first, second, and third prizes for the best compositions.

Three Challenges to Choose From:

1. First Challenge: compose a piece for choir or organ based on one of Hildegard of Bingen's 12th-century chants, “Alleluia o virga mediatrix,” in honor of the Virgin Mary as Mediatrix. Vocal works can include a newly composed chant or polyphonic work; pieces for organ can include organ improvisations, new hymns, etc. Link to the transcription as well as the 12th-century digitized manuscript can be accessed here.
2. Second Challenge: compose a piece based on a medieval Marian sequence for the Assumption of Mary, “Aurea virgo prime” from the 14th century Gradual of Fontevrault Abbey, F-LG 2(17). A link to the digitized manuscript can be accessed here; the sequence “Aurea virgo” is on folios 173v-174v.
3. Third Challenge: Compose a piece for the Mass based on the Beneventan chant, “Alleluia Hodie transfiguratus est” for the feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. If this challenge interests you, please email novacanticaconference@gmail.com with "Beneventan chant" in the subject line, requesting a digitized scan and transcription of the chant.

Deadline to submit compositions is June 30th, 2026. Submissions should be sent via email, at novacanticaconference@gmail.com, with the subject heading “Composer's Challenge Nova Cantica 2026.”

Come join us in our musical apostolate this year, in honor of Christ and His most Holy Mother! We look forward to seeing you at Nova Cantica 2026, and may God bless you.