A note from Krishan Oberoi, The Immaculata’s Organist & Wedding Music Director:
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding at The Immaculata! As Wedding Music Director and Organist, I look forward to working with you in planning the music for your wedding ceremony. There are many options available to you in terms of musical selections and performing ensembles; I am here to help you coordinate a musical program that best suits your vision for your wedding. Because each wedding is different, I recommend that engaged couples meet with me during the early stages of the planning process, that we may begin to discuss some of these options.
Five Common Wedding Music FAQs
Q: What’s the first step in planning our wedding music?
A: Most couples prefer to listen to The Immaculata's Wedding Music Sampler CD as an intial step in planning their music. The CD is designed to give you a sense of the variety of musical selections available for use during a Catholic wedding liturgy In general, your wedding may include any song or hymn that is approved for use in a Catholic Mass. If you have questions regarding the use of a musical selection that is not included on this CD, just ask; I will be happy to accommodate your requests, if possible. You are also welcome to make an appointment with me to discuss your music in greater detail. This can be done as far in advance as you like.
Q: What is the music like at a “typical” Immaculata wedding?
A: Every wedding is different! The most traditional route is to hire The Immaculata’s organist, and one of our parish cantors (vocalists) to lead the singing. However, piano can be used in place of the organ, and additional musicians (such as trumpet, guitar, violin, etc.) can be hired through The Immaculata, if desired.
Q: We’re thinking about hiring violins, trumpet, etc. How do we go about doing this?
A: Many couples choose to enhance their ceremony music by adding additional musicians such as trumpets or strings. We prefer to contract additional musicians through the Immaculata office, since we have a roster of professional instrumentalists that we work with regularly. As Wedding Music Director, I will be able to line up the musicians that you require. All of our musicians are first-rate professionals who offer their services at competitive prices.
Q: What does all this cost?
A: You can get a copy of the fee sheet here.
Q: We would like to bring a singer/musician from outside the parish. Can this be done?
A: The ideal situation is one in which guest musicians work in collaboration with me in planning and performing the music for your wedding. This arrangement will ensure that everything goes smoothly on your wedding day. Please note that our organ and sound system are not available to musicians from outside the parish. In addition, as Wedding Music Director, I do have “first right of refusal” for use of the Immaculata’s piano. You can obtain further details on our guest musician policy during your consultation with me.
In closing
I hope that this information has been useful for you as you begin to plan the music for your wedding! Please feel free to contact me at 619.309.7762, or oberoi@sandiego.edu with any additional questions.
About Krishan:
Krishan Oberoi is Organist and Wedding Music Director at The Immaculata. A native of New York, Krishan has been working professionally in the Catholic Church since 1995, when he accepted his first Assistant Organist position at the age of 21. Since then, he has gone on to excel as a performer, composer and conductor. Highlights of his career include professional appearances in New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Puerto Rico, as well as Austria, England, Germany, Greece and Hungary. Having received his Bachelor’s degree in 1996 from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Krishan went on to receive a Master’s from the Yale School of Music in 2006. While at Yale, his studies were funded by a full-tuition scholarship from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. To learn more about Krishan, please visit his independent website at www.waxeuphoric.com