Simply put, Gaudete began when five singing friends simultaneously encountered the exhilarating thrill of performing Renaissance polyphony in its proper ritual context: the Traditional Latin Mass. Director and founder Jonathan Bading had previously converted to the Catholic Faith as a result of this selfsame phenomenon, and thus when he found himself at the helm of a parish music program, surrounded by competent, zealous singers, he knew he must to do whatever he could to offer God and the pilgrim this same marvelous gift. 

Thus in the summer of 2019, Jonathan assembled these four friends together, cut a promotional album, “Woman, Behold Thy Son” to raise start-up funds, and began singing Mass. Our first official outing was that year's Feast of the Assumption. What was then a quintet has now become a 16-voice ensemble that sings repertory spanning six centuries. 

We serve as artist-in-residence at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Grand Rapids, MI, this diocese's official home for the Traditional Latin Mass. However, we have sung Masses throughout the state—please reach out to us if you are a priest or music director in the Great Lakes region who would like us to come to you. 

Gaudete in Domino semper. Rejoice in the Lord always!