A Pre-eminent Musician

We lost a talented, dedicated member of our monastic community last Thursday. Sister Joachim Holthaus was a gifted musician, playing organ, piano, and harp, and writing many psalm tones and compositions for our Liturgy of the Hours. She held a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of Southern California. She was an exacting teacher and many of her pupils won awards at their competitions. She also directed the monastery schola (choir) and made a record of Gregorian Chant by the monastic choir in the 1970s. She was named "Educator of the Year" at Benedictine college in 1985. She directed a liturgical drama called "Play of Daniel"(in Latin) along with Sister Lillian Harrington, featuring over 70 of the Mount sisters for our 125th anniversary. In 1990, she founded the Mount Conservatory of Music in St. Cecilia's where she taught organ, piano, and harp until the age of 90.

Sister Joachim was an active member of our monastic community and also participated in many civic, professional, and religious organizations. She started Community Concerts in Atchison along with Father Blaine Schultz, which brought well-known musicians to Mount St. Scholastica. Gracious and refined, someone once said, "she didn't walk, she glided." Her gift of music lives on in her students and the liturgical music she composed. Sister Joachim died on August 27 at the age of 93. She is remembered with esteem and gratitude.

Sister Joachim Holthaus at the piano in the 1970s