Join us today at 13:30 for a lunchtime recital sung by the Mater Dei High School Singers. Admission to the recital is included in the usual cathedral entry.
Based in Santa Ana, California, the Mater Dei High School Choral and Vocal Program serves a diverse Southern California community Notably, they recently performed solo concerts at Carnegie Hall and renowned venues in Italy. Graduates of the program thrive in artistic careers ranging from the Metropolitan Opera to Broadway, upholding the legacy of excellence cultivated at Mater Dei. Additionally, the program prioritizes nurturing the spiritual and emotional growth of every singer, reflecting Mater Dei’s core values. Based in Santa Ana, California, the Mater Dei High School Choral and Vocal Music Program serves a diverse Southern California community. With 11 ensembles and nearly 300 singers participating in athletics, ASB, the arts, campus ministry and more, Mater Dei High School is proud to serve the county seat of Orange County and proud of our partnership with the richly diverse city of Santa Ana, in which the largest population of our student body resides. Developing faith-filled and responsible student leaders who are committed to serving their respective communities with a profound sense of social justice founded in love is a core value of Mater Dei High School. We empower our students to develop into ethical and inspirational leaders who positively impact their communities and the world. The ensemble singing at ACDA today, Mater Dei Chamber Singers, represents over 6,000 service hours serving the communities of Orange County and beyond. Mater Dei Choir consistently excels, earning superior ratings at competitions and festivals nationwide while performing locally and abroad. Our program is blessed to take yearly pilgrimages with our singers to explore culture, community and faith, both internationally and nationally. Our student artists have participated in and sang at mass in St. Peter’s, St. Mark’s and La Sagrada Familia. Mater Dei choirs have performed concerts in some of the world’s greatest venues including the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy, the Chiesa di San Trovaso in Venice, the Chiesa Santa Trinita in Florence, and in Rome the Chiesa Sant’Ignazio di Loyola, the Basilica Papale di San Pietro, and the Sistine Chapel. Notably, they performed at the 2023 CASMEC Conference and recently performed a solo concert at Carnegie Hall. In April 2024, Mater Dei Choir will return to New York City to give a solo concert at Lincoln Center in the David Geffen Concert Hall. Graduates of the program thrive in artistic careers ranging from the Metropolitan Opera to Broadway, upholding the legacy of excellence cultivated at Mater Dei.
Dr. Jodi Reed and her husband are the parents of six children. She has been the Director of Mater Dei Choral and Vocal Music since 2019. A conductor, pianist, and vocalist, Dr. Reed began her musical career studying piano competitively and has maintained a lifelong passion for choral music since high school, leading university, school, church, and community choirs. Early in her career, she made history as the first female conductor to win first place multiple times at a prestigious California choral competition. Her choirs have performed on National Public Radio’s From the Top, as well as the 2018 ACDA Western Region Conference, the 2018 California All-State Music Educators Conference, the 2023 CASMEC Conference, the 2024 ACDA Western Region Conference, and in renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and St. John’s Basilica in New York City, and Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Concert Hall in 2024. Dr. Reed has conducted internationally in iconic locations like the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey and La Sagrada Familia in Spain, and the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. In addition to her role as a Musical Director with Mater Dei High School, she is a musical director of Millennial Choirs and Orchestras. Dr. Reed holds a doctor of musical arts degree in conducting from Claremont Graduate University, a master’s in choral conducting from California State University East Bay, and a bachelor’s in piano performance and pedagogy from San Jose State University. Her mentors include Buddy James, David Rentz, Laurel Brettel, Ted Reid, Susan Bana and Dottie Nix. She has had the privilege of working with many experts in the field, including Charlene Archibeque, Dennnis Shrock, Jameson Marvin and Edward McClary. Dr. Reed is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, and Chorus America. Outside of music, she enjoys scuba diving and spending time at the ocean.
